The axiom of choice

[Physics Guy]

I’m afraid this thread title is just clickbait for math nerds. All I really want to ask is about the seemingly common Mormon choice to use the word “choice”, as an adjective meaning “especially good”.

To my ear the word is quaint and archaic. It’s also a bit weak, perhaps just because the only other place I can remember seeing the adjective “choice” is in fine print on canned food in Canada, where “choice” is an official designation for a certain quality level. It must be there because of some decades-old labeling laws. The funny thing is that “choice” is the cheap stuff that you only buy if you’re trying to save a few more cents; most products these days are in the top grade of “fancy”. So “choice” always sounds to me like a euphemism for “mediocre”.

In Mormon vocabulary the word seems to be more positive, and more widely used than in other American dialects. Am I right about “choice” being particularly Mormon, or is it a wider regional thing? Why do Mormons like to say “choice”?

[dastardly stem]

Some decades back Mormons decided to use “choice” because of its simplicity. They use the word for youngsters as soon as they start speaking. Theres a 3-word phrase commonly sung and taught to kids pre-8 and beyond—choose the right. Mormons will say the greatest gift man has is choice. God wants us to choose. Not just make a choice but choose him everyday as part of keeping their covenants. God gave free agency and the way to get back to him is to choose him. Given that thinking I don’t know there’s a more appropriate word to use.

[canpakes]

Some decades back Mormons decided to use “choice” because of its simplicity. They use the word for youngsters as soon as they start speaking. Theres a 3-word phrase commonly sung and taught to kids pre-8 and beyond—choose the right. Mormons will say the greatest gift man has is choice. God wants us to choose. Not just make a choice but choose him everyday as part of keeping their covenants. God gave free agency and the way to get back to him is to choose him. Given that thinking I don’t know there’s a more appropriate word to use.

What about usage such as 2 Nephi 1:

“But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; …”

[dastardly stem]

Some decades back Mormons decided to use “choice” because of its simplicity. They use the word for youngsters as soon as they start speaking. Theres a 3-word phrase commonly sung and taught to kids pre-8 and beyond—choose the right. Mormons will say the greatest gift man has is choice. God wants us to choose. Not just make a choice but choose him everyday as part of keeping their covenants. God gave free agency and the way to get back to him is to choose him. Given that thinking I don’t know there’s a more appropriate word to use.

What about usage such as 2 Nephi 1:

“But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; …”

Oh oops. I wish I didn’t jump on it and run down the wrong path. I don’t know. Never used that word in that way. Hah

[Gadianton]

Of all the unexpected things that could be brought up. I can't speak for how the word was used back in Smith's day, but I'd speculate that its adoption into Mormon culture since then is unique. If there are enough other movements that stuck with "old language" from the old King James maybe we could compare.

The term was used constantly when I grew up, and I'm pretty sure it's in my own patriarchal blessing. A "choice spirit of our heavenly father". I recall hearing about "choice young women". It's the Mormon anthropic principle. Every generation of Mormons believe they live at climax of the battle between good and evil, and the second coming is 20 years or so off. And so if you were born Mormon NOW, then how else to explain it other than you must have been like, a general or a war hero from the pre-existence during the fight against Lucifer. If you were born with a disability, then your patriarchal blessing might reveal that you were so valiant during the war, that it was personal between you and Lucifer, therefore the handicap was applied to prevent him from unfair temptation tactics.

[huckelberry]

Of all the unexpected things that could be brought up. I can't speak for how the word was used back in Smith's day, but I'd speculate that its adoption into Mormon culture since then is unique. If there are enough other movements that stuck with "old language" from the old King James maybe we could compare.

The term was used constantly when I grew up, and I'm pretty sure it's in my own patriarchal blessing. A "choice spirit of our heavenly father". I recall hearing about "choice young women". It's the Mormon anthropic principle. Every generation of Mormons believe they live at climax of the battle between good and evil, and the second coming is 20 years or so off. And so if you were born Mormon NOW, then how else to explain it other than you must have been like, a general or a war hero from the pre-existence during the fight against Lucifer. If you were born with a disability, then your patriarchal blessing might reveal that you were so valiant during the war, that it was personal between you and Lucifer, therefore the handicap was applied to prevent him from unfair temptation tactics.

Gadianton has explained Mormon usage well. It is the way I remember the word being used.

I looked online dictionary and choice is listed as adjective meaning high quality, especially for food. I remember being a bit puzzled hearing the meat grading system wherein choice is second and not first tier. It sounds to my ears like it should be the best.

I think Mormon culture may have a special fondness for the word. I suspect Canada may have a different common usage than in the US. I do not think we have a grocery wide rating system in use.

[Rick Grunder]

Fun! This got me curious, so I ran to Mormon Parallels to check. To my embarrassment, most of the instances there were my own personal usage in the commentaries (including my calling Dan Vogel “choice friend material,” which is true, however corny).

However, there were certainly early non-Mormon instances, including hymnals and other works incorporating “A Choice Selection . . .” in their titles. And here is a particularly Mormon-sounding example of choice spirits, by Eliza R. Snow in her 1855 prayer to Adam-God, performed at a solemn fireside soirée at the home of Lorenzo Snow . . .

I will praise thee, O my God.

In the midst of the daughters of Zion—in the presence of the Honorable Judges in Israel, I will exalt thy name.

The first fruits of all the nations of the earth are here—thou hast associated me with choice spirits, even those who have conducted nobly from the beginning.

. . . . .

. . . O, my God, Adam, Ahman, the King, the Lord of Hosts.

—"CHANT, Delivered by ELIZA R. SNOW, February 6th, 1855, before an Assembly of the Polysophical Institution, in L. Snow's Hall." Deseret News for April 25, 1855 [5:7], page 53, column 2.

[Informant]

Not unique. USDA Choice beef, etc.

Grasping at straws here peepz.

[Physics Guy]

The lowest marketable food grade in Canada is "Canada Standard", but you hardly ever see it, and for many kinds of products it isn't even allowed to be sold for human consumption. Apple sauce, for instance, only comes in Fancy and Choice grades, and the step down from Fancy to Choice appears significant.

5. (1) The grade and grade names for apple sauce packaged in a hermetically sealed package are Canada Fancy and Canada Choice.

(2) Canada Fancy is the name for the grade of apple sauce that
(a) possesses a very good apple flavour and aroma of well-ripened apples;
(b) possesses a good colour, a good consistency and a granular appearance; and
(c) is practically free from seed specks, skin, bruised portions, carpel tissue and other defects.

(3) Canada Choice is the name for the grade of apple sauce that
(a) possesses a fairly good flavour and aroma of well-ripened apples;
(b) possesses a fairly good colour, a fairly good consistency and a reasonably granular appearance; and
(c) is reasonably free from seed specks, skin, bruised portions, carpel tissue and other defects.

Wow, this apple sauce has fairly good flavour and is reasonably free from carpel tissue. What a choice item!

[msnobody]

A Latter-day Saint once told me I was a choice creation. Up until then choice beef came to mind.