Need to Populate a Multi-Choice Lookup SharePoint Field from String (SP 2019)

SharePoint 2019 On-Premise

I am having difficulties populating a SharePoint list lookup column from a string (data of string comes from a workflow). The string is only text; no ID values. I can get the first value to populate. But as soon as I add another value, it only populates the first and does not give an error.

I know the SharePoint list lookup column needs the ID as well, so I have a workflow replacing the original text so the final output text is what the SharePoint list column needs to use in the “Update List Item” or “Update field” workflow action in a Nintex Workflow. I can’t seem to get the syntax correct for these actions to work.

//works using this data and "As String(Default)" 

1;#Career Path Planning 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item (added ;# to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care;# 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item (added ,;# to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care,;# 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item (added ,space to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care, 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item (added ;#space to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care;# 

//partially works using this data and "As String(Default)" - only selects first item (added space to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care 

//partially works using this data and "Choices, Comma Delimited" - only selects first item (added space to end) 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care 

//Using "Lookup Values, Comma Delimited" - Error: Coercion Failed: Unable to transform the input lookup data into the requested type. 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care 

//Using "Lookup Ids, Comma Delimited" - Error: Coercion Failed: Unable to transform the input lookup data into the requested type. 

1;#Career Path Planning,2;#Dependent Care 

//did not work using this data and "As String(Default)"; nothing entered in lookup field and no error 

1;2 

//did not work using this data and "Lookup Ids, comma delimited"; error: Coercion Failed: Unable to transform the input lookup data into the requested type. 

1;2 

//Using "Lookup Ids, comma delimited" - only selects first item 

1,2 

//Using "Lookup Ids, comma delimited" - only selects first item (comma at end) 

1,2, 

//Using "Lookup Ids, comma delimited" - only selects first item (comma space at end) 

1,2, 

//Using "Lookup Ids, comma delimited" - only selects first item (comma space comma at end) 

1,2, , 

I have searched all over the internet for this answer. I know it’s out there!!!