YRM's New Moon Criteria

YRM and the New Moon Network Criteria

Dear fellow moon watchers:

Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry takes New Moon observation very seriously! Yahweh has ordained his New Moons to properly keep his Holy Days! And we want to be good stewards of them.

A number of people across the country have desired better organization of New moon observation and the validity of posts on the Internet. The “wild west” mentality of new moon observations has forced us to establish the New Moon Network website to bring some sort of order to New Moon communication today! We hope to live up to New Moon Network’s slogan, “Sightings You Can Trust!”

When Yahweh ordains His new moons He puts these heavenly signs (new moons) in the sky for Yahweh's people to confirm simply and clearly without the need for a herculean effort, Gen. 1:14.

Why we use the US only and cannot go with global New Moon Spotters

Because of Numbers 15:2-3, YRM believes any sightings outside the North American continent are not valid for us here in the U.S.: "And Yahweh spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When you come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, and will make an offering by fire unto Yahweh, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feast, to make a sweet savour unto Yahweh, of the herd, or of the flock..." We don't use the setting of the sun in Israel or Australia to confirm our weekly Sabbath. This is a sign that comes to you locally, at your time and place, just as does the new moon.

What New Moon did King David, Abraham or Jacob use? It's obvious, the moon in their locale. What about the Apostle Paul who traveled for as long as two years and as far away as Macedonia, what new moon did he use? Obviously, the new moon in his local. What if we lost global communication, as could very well happen in the end times? These questions pose very big problems if we implemented a "global" network of new moon spotters. Malachi 3:6 For I [am] Yahweh, I change not...

We need not let modern technology interfere with Yahweh’s set signs in the sky, and we need to be willing to change our calendars as a result of Yahweh’s revealings without looking for shortcuts. What schedule are we on, His or ours? He commands us in Deut. 16:1 to watch for the new moon. If we use a sighting anywhere on earth then we no longer need to watch for the moon in this country as most of the time someone will already confirm the moon for us a day earlier in another country. Our command has been trumped, thanks to modern technology.

We understand that the saints in biblical times didn't have to deal with these issues as mass communication was non existent. We realize that a global network would make things easier and every moon would be spotted somewhere in the world. We realize we would never have to worry about changing our calendar, but there's one underlying question that will always immerge: what part of following Yahweh are we to make easy? And isn't the whole point of looking for a New Moon the very idea of Yahweh telling us when to worship Him in our land? Is not the whole idea of New Moons to give Yahweh the control and show him our faith and devotion?

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14) Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

How to report a sighting

To verify a new moon sighting, please call the YRM office at 573-896-9248 or fill out the form on the New Moon Network page. Remember, the new moon must be sighted first by the naked eye or with corrective lenses (use binoculars to verify only, or we cannot accept your sighting!). Sign up to be a regular new moon observer on the New Moon Network website.

When you call, please be ready with new moon location and description. Once confirmed, your sighting will be listed on this page for others to view. Sightings will not be confirmed without all information filled in. Keep in mind your sighting will be scrutinized for validity according to known projections of horizon degrees, illumination percentages, moon shape and time of observation.

Proper worship of our father Yahweh is not something we take lightly at Yahweh's Restoration Ministry! Sometimes good-intentioned people want to see the moon so badly they either fool themselves or mistake jet trails for a legitimate sighting. All information must check out for us to inform the saints across this country that the moon has been sighted. We have changed our calendar in the past as sometimes unexpected sightings occur contradictory to our projections.

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