Declaration of the signees

A Declaration
Concerning The Lord’s Assignment To Us
To Write, Adopt, And Add A Statement Of Principles To The Scriptures ______________________
It is necessary for us, part of the Lord’s covenant people, to make known in writing our united sentiments regarding the months-long effort to write, adopt, and add to our scriptures a statement of principles, as has been required of us by the Lord. And whereas there exists no other suitable or meaningful medium for the silent majority of God’s people to make their voices known, we hereby proclaim our belief concerning said effort, and extend an invitation. This Declaration shall be added to the historical record which is kept among the people of God.
We believe the Lord requires us to add a statement of principles as a guide and standard to our scriptures. Just as the Lord required two specific sections to be “added” to the scriptures in the Answer and Covenant, noting that these additions would make the scriptural record acceptable, he also said concerning the statement of principles, “I require it to also be added as a guide and standard for my people to follow.” This clearly requires the statement be added to the published scriptures, as were the other two required additions.
We have, therefore, on more than one occasion, nearly unanimously agreed to a statement of principles that the scripture committee has chosen not to publish, thereby preventing the final step of the assignment from being completed. Recently, the same committee has said publicly that it now has no intention of publishing a statement of principles in our scriptures until such a time as “everyone wants to reprint the scriptures with a Guide and Standard as a permanent addendum.”
The Lord said, “Remember there are others who know nothing, as yet, of my work now underway, and therefore the guide and standard is to bless, benefit and inform them.” We believe a failure to publish a guide and standard that has been adopted by the mutual agreement of the people, cannot bless, benefit or inform others who know nothing of the Lord’s work, as it will not be readily available to those who purchase our scriptures.
The Lord also said, “it was a light thing I have asked…if your hearts were right and you prepared yourselves you could have finished this work long ago.” We believe those who say we are acting in haste misunderstand the Lord’s words and the assignment given to us.
Let this Declaration stand as a witness that we, as covenant people of the Lord, interpret the Lord’s instructions to us differently than do those who have prevented the accomplishment of this assignment. While some, including the scripture committee, do not consider it necessary to add to the scriptures a statement of principles by publication, we do consider it necessary, and have repeatedly attempted to pursue that end.
Therefore, as there has been, on more than one occasion, public demonstration that the preponderance of God’s people have voted to be mutually agreeable, and have attempted to publish a statement of principles as a guide and standard;
And whereas there remains to be seen any meaningful scriptural objection from anyone as to the content of the Lots Guide and Standard document, which has been agreed upon by a vast majority of the Lord’s covenant people;
And whereas the scripture committee currently chooses a course of inaction regarding the publication of previously agreed upon statements of principles, thereby preventing both an outcome consistent with the voice of the Lord’s people and the fulfillment of the Lord’s assignment to us;
We the people declare our written witness and affidavit before God, angels and men, that we have made a faithful effort to comply with the requirements of the Lord to us.
We now humbly request that the scripture committee, who for the present time, by virtue of a copyright, has control over decisions concerning the published contents of our scriptures, add the Lots Guide and Standard document to the scriptures by publication. If the committee chooses not to comply with the voice of the people, either because of the relentless opposition and disputation of some individuals, or because of their own private prejudices, then it shall be recorded it was they, and not the undersigned people of God, who chose thusly.
Some few may continue to choose opposition and disputation rather than unity. The confluence of disputation on one hand, and inaction on the other, have heretofore curtailed the completion of the assignment we’ve been given. We love, support and respect our brothers and sisters who may disagree with the voice of the majority and do not consider our difference of opinion in any way an act of severance, nor an intention to remove either ourselves or anyone else from our general fellowship. We recognize and are grateful for the sacrifice and labor of the scripture committee to produce our Restoration Edition of the scriptures. We invite all to stand with us in our weakness as a show of love and reciprocation as we attempt to accomplish the Lord’s requirements to us.
We remain a covenant people united in our determination to keep all of God’s commandments to His people, who choose kindness rather than disputation, and who are mutually agreeable with regards to this assignment. We desire to be faithful to the Lord by accomplishing all that he has asked or may yet ask of us.
Onward!
_____________________________________________
Signed, beginning this day, April 6, 2018.

If you would like to add your name to this list of signees please contact Matt Lohmeier at matthew.lohmeier@gmail.com.

Susie Aagard
Gary Barlow
Kimberly Barlow
Nephi Barlow
Marv Bateman
Sharman Bateman
Shuree Bawden
Stephen Bawden
Russell Baxter
Aaron Bishop
Margaret Brough
Glen T. Cella
Mary Jane Cella
Meghan A. Cella
A. Maks Cella
Rick Cromar
Jeanene Custer
Lark Cyr
Christy Danner
Donald Danner
Erin Dippold
Jonathan Dippold
Vern Eastley
Anastasia England
Andrew England
James Fargo
Heidi Fargo
Derek Fausett
Devin Fausett
Krista Fausett
Terry Fausett
Mellody Fausett
Laura Fenn
Hi Gibson
Keith Henderson
Elaine Henderson
Jack Hinkle
Robert Hone
Jeremy Hoop
Whitney Horning
Vernon Horning
Enoch Horning
Mark Hudson
Jill Hudson
Janie Hudson
Jack Hudson
Ken Jensen
McKaye Johnson
Brandon Johnson
Brandon A. Johnson
Dianne Johnson
Robert Johnson
Sierra Kelsch
Sterling Kelsch
Adrian Larsen
Jennifer Lohmeier
Matthew Lohmeier
Sara Lohmeier
M. Lauren Luttrull
Tim Malone
Lynne McKinley
Christian Meyer
Julie Meyer
Sharene Morley
Spencer Morley
Jackson Naegle
Louis Naegle
rachel Naegle
Jim O’Rullian
Angela O’Rullian
Bonnie Parkinson
John P. Pratt
Phillip Redd
April Roundy
Jon Sanders
Tina Sanders
Dauna Sandmire
Blain Saunders
Christina Saunders
Karen Stella
Kirk Strong
Karen Strong
McKenzie Strong
McKelle Strong
McKessa Strong
McKyla Strong
Brian Van Leer
Kimberly D. Van Leer
Linda Van Leer
Steve Van Leer
Kevin White
Angela White
Bethany White
John Webster
John Webster, Jr.
Kay Webster
Sarah Webster
Virginia Wegner
Alexandria Wilkes
Dallon Wilkes
Rebecca Wolford
Sarah Wright

Education

Sloyd advocates the principle that:
“Education is what you are left with after you have forgotten everything you learned in school.”

“Sloyd,” is a system of handicraft-based education started by Uno Cygnaeus in Finland in 1865. The system was taught in the United States until the early 20th Century. It is still taught as a compulsory subject in Sweden and other European schools.

It’s initial aim was to promote social and moral betterment by means of such education as shall increase efficiency and respect for labor….To move from the known to the unknown. Hence the main educational tool in its beginning was the knife, because every farm boy prior to the turn of 20th century had knowledge of how to use a knife without hurting himself.

OF GOD OR BY CHANCE

I am aware that some have not appreciated the effort of drawing lots as the means to choose seven individuals to write the Statement. As I contemplate what has happened and delve deeper into the many “coincidence’s” which have come to light in the effort, I simply stand all amazed at what has taken place, and thought, perhaps, you might enjoy the following.

The Equality Factor

Perhaps there are other processes which could give participants the equality of which we have been taught so much lately, but so does drawing of lots. There were 185 unique numbers in the (now famous/infamous) spittoon. Each number was unique to a person who had accepted this process and submitted their own name, or had submitted another’s name [who also accepted]. Without factoring in other things such as shape and size of Elaine’s hand, or size of the spittoon, or the type of tag used, or other tools of the statistician’s trade, each number in the pot had, at first drawing, 1 in 185 chances of being drawn. As Elaine dipped her hand into the pot the second time each number had 1 in 184 chances of being drawn, etc., until the 14th consecutive drawn number offered a 1 in 171 chance for each number in the pot to be drawn. Every number in the pot had, at each picking, as equal a chance as every other number in the pot to be drawn. Every person had the same offer to put his/her name in for the drawing. This WAS a way to produce equality among all this Covenant group.

There were 114 unique numbers in the pot representing males, while there were 71 representing females. This means that by random chance alone there should have been 5 numbers drawn representing women, to 9 numbers drawn representing men. Yet there were 12 men vs 2 women, and those two women are split, one in the first group of 7, and one in the second group of 7. The probability that it would happen this way in each group of 7 is about 1 in 2,500.

I am told that the odds of drawing a husband and wife were approximately 33,000 to 1. And the odds of drawing the husband and wife consecutively would be 33,000 to one, to the 185th power. Other things we could list that would effect the probability of this couple would be the couple themselves, who they are among us. Another could be the drawing of the husband first and the wife next. In other words the result is so small as to be statistically zero.

Other improbabilities exist.

In the first group of seven one of the individuals lives in the United Kingdom, but happens to be the son in law of another member in that group, and is in regular communication with his father in law.

The fact that Jeff Savage’s name was drawn in the 14th spot or even drawn at all is very very very small (I couldn’t get anyone to calculate the numbers for this, but this was the common opinion). I wonder if for Jeff the case could be made that “the first shall be last and the last shall be first. At the very least God is aware of Jeff Savage. Jeff, many of us love you for what you did.

But, perhaps for me the greatest evidence of God’s hand in this drawing is the product itself. Read for yourself the “Plea” and then the “Guide and Standard” and experience for yourself the message of peace contained in them, and see if perhaps you can also agree.

I would like to echo the sentiment expressed by the compilers, Praise be to our God for His mercy and goodness. These are His words compiled by those He chose.

Keith

Drawing of Lots – Part 2

RESULTS OF LAST NIGHTS DRAWING OF LOTS

DRAWING OF THE FIRST SEVEN

#52 Jack Hinkle
#198 Jason Carlson
#36 John Webster
#44 Doug Larson
#186 Jeff Reber
#175 Jonathan Dippold
#96 Shalyce Woodard

DRAWING OF THE SECOND SEVEN (alternates to be used if needed in the order chosen at drawing and as given here)

#38 Kirk Strong
#133 David Kay
#181 Jeff Brown
#32 Adrian Larsen
#30 Tausha Larsen
#105 Christian Meyer
# 62 Jeff Savage

I would personally like to thank all who offered their services. Again there were 184 who volunteered or were volunteered and accepted to participate in this drawing of lots. As I saw this effort mature I was amazed and said to myself quite often, “so this is how this is done.” Well, at least this is how it was done by us.

You can watch or listen to the whole process by clicking on one of the links in the previous post.

As entertaining as that may be, it doesn’t show the many hours of preparation which went into making that 19 minute presentation possible. There were well over a hundred who, in one manner or another, made it possible to get that video produced. We give a heartfelt thanks to the 184 mentioned above whose names were in the spittoon for the drawing. And there were almost 400 who voted to accept drawing of lots, as the means for getting a group together who will now produce a Statement of Principles, to take to our Lord for acceptance.

May God’s Spirit and blessing accompany these who develop this Statement and all those who have participated in this process. Our prayers are with you.

Keith Henderson

Results of drawing of lots

On November 12, 2017 lots were drawn in order to form a committee which will compose a Statement Of Principles. There were 184 individual names submitted from which 14 were drawn by Elaine Henderson. The first 7 names will comprise the committee with responsibility to compose the statement. The other 7 names will, in the order they were drawn, comprise a pool of alternates, if needed.

The first 7 numbers drawn are: 52, 198, 36, 44, 186, 175, and 96.

The second set of 7 numbers drawn are: 38, 133, 181, 32, 30, 105, and 62.

Listen to drawing of lots here.
Watch drawing of lots here.

Check on this website tomorrow after 9AM to see a matching of names with the published numbers.

Casting Our Lots

WELCOME

This post has only one purpose, to solicit you to send in your name, or perhaps another you feel would be acceptable to our Lord, to be included in the jar (or box) from which names will be drawn according to the system of drawing lots, that will comprise those individuals making up the committee which will write a Statement of Principles.

Boy, that was a mouthful but I wanted to insure understanding of what we are doing here. We are only drawing lots to determine God’s will about who will write a Statement of Principles.

I was surprised at how many have responded to this tactic of selection. The great majority of those responding have expressed their desire to use this method, but even if you felt to vote against this process please know that your response was needed. I feel it is a valid way of determining God’s will. Others would perhaps disagree thinking revelation should only be a voice in the mind, or perhaps an audible voice causing air to vibrate, or others need a personal visitation. Gideon needed a piece of fleece to make it work for him; asking the lord to please have the dew of the night settle only on the fleece and the earth be dry. When that worked he asked the Lord for another sign. This time just the reverse. Have the earth be wet with dew and the fleece be dry. That worked also, and the anger of the Lord was not kindled at such a request.

At the very beginning of the Book of Mormon (a Covenant to us) we are confronted by the son’s of Lehi drawing lots to determine who gets to confront Laban about the brass plates. We see in hind sight God’s purpose in having it work out as it did, but I doubt Nephi had any grandiose scheme in mind about him finally being the one to succeed and obtain the accoutrements of kingship. It was just four brothers, sitting around a campfire, exercising faith that God’s choice would be with them in drawing the short straw (or whatever) to see who went first. And there are many others:

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:24-26.)  The same method is used here by Apostles as had been used by the Lord’s crucifiers to divide up His clothing, as He was hanging on the cross in the last throes of dying. When we think of the Roman guards using it to divide Christ’s clothing, it becomes less inspired-looking and more homely.  It looks more like expediency than revelation as a tool for choosing an Apostle.  Yet, at the same time, this same process is built into all the scriptures and has been used by those of faith for millennia. Without regard to feeling, emotion or desire, the lots are drawn and the assignments are made.  These physical objects contain within them the Lord’s mind for organizing a council by whom work gets done and things get written.

From Nephi’s casting lots to decide who would go, to choosing a scapegoat, to choosing an apostle, to choosing roles for a disciplinary court, casting lots has been the way people of faith have determined God’s will for centuries. Through it God “speaks.” But it requires faith to see it in that light. For these are ordinary, even commonplace ways of making a decision. Only through faith, however, does it acquire the “voice of God” in it. With that said let’s proceed to the work of making this work.

Read carefully that which is below. Please click on all the links and obtain all the understanding you can. And then if you feel to move forward, to submit your’s or another’s name for inclusion in the lots, click on the first link again to find the form required. Fill it out with honesty and integrity and push submit. May God bless us all in this effort.

Keith Henderson

THE WORK

If you have entered into the recent covenant offered, you may submit the following on the website indicated below until Sunday November 12, 2017 at 7pm MST:
1. Names, including your own if you feel called or those of others you would like to nominate, to be drawn by lot to serve on the body of 7 to compile a Statement of Principles; when submitting name(s) please include contact information such as email and/or phone number as directed in the form.
2. Versions of the Statement of Principles that you have had a primary role in developing for the body of 7 to consider when they are performing their labor. Even if you have previously posted a Statement of Principles on the Guide & Standard website, it will need to be resubmitted to the Central Recorder through this form for consideration by the body of 7.

Central Recorder Lots Form

As your information is received via the form linked to above, you (or those you nominate) will receive an email or phone call from the Central Recorder to 1) confirm that you are willing to participate (for those nominated by others), 2) verify that you meet the criteria listed below, and 3) inform you of your unique “lot number” (if your name is submitted multiple times, you will only receive 1 “lot number”):
* At least 18 years of age;
* (Re)baptized and baptism recorded with the Central Recorder;
* Entered into the recent covenant;
* Agree to perform your labor according to the criteria of composing the Statement of Principles using primarily the words of Christ directly or through an authorized servant (as described in the United Proposal).

As Statement of Principles documents are received, the Central Recorder will copy them into an electronic folder that will be shared with the body of 7. While the body of 7 are not required to incorporate any of these materials into the Statement of Principles that they compile, they are at liberty to choose one or more to use as the basis, or bring together aspects of different Statements of Principles into a single document that also includes their own labors, as guided by the Spirit.

The drawing of lots (ie, “lot numbers”) will take place on Sunday November 12, 2017 at 9pm MST. The event will be broadcast on this link or by calling 1-669-900-6833 (Meeting ID: 216 044 0046). The broadcast is limited to 150 viewers/callers, but a link to a recording will be made available soon after the drawing of lots on the Recorder’s Clearinghouse website for any who are not able to join the live broadcast. The “lot numbers” selected (including alternates) will also be posted to the Recorder’s Clearinghouse website immediately following the drawing. As soon as all those whose “lot numbers” were drawn have been confirmed and verified (if this was not completed prior to the drawing), the names of the body of 7 will be posted to the Central Recorder’s website. The Central Recorder will then put the 7 in communication with each other via email and send to them any Statement of Principles documents that have been received. The baton will then be officially passed to the body of 7 to complete the assignment as outlined in the lots proposal (see here and here) as well as the United Proposal. For whatever reason, if the body of 7 cannot complete a Statement of Principles to be presented to the Lord within two weeks, a set of 7 alternates will replace them to complete the assignment. We humbly ask that all who feel so inclined will unite in prayer and fasting on Sunday November 12th so that the Lord’s will may be manifest.

This is how Christ’s Gospel works

I want to show you something!

From Preserving The Restoration Page 227, by Denver Snuffer, we find he has written:

“King Benjamin (or, substitute any legal administrator) did not act on his own. He taught only what had been given him to teach by an angel. Because God renewed His covenant with King Benjamin, it was through King Benjamin that the people could once again make an acceptable covenant with God. The purpose of sending the angel to King Benjamin was not to offer him salvation, but to offer once again a valid covenant through which others could repent.

This is how God operates. Even the chosen people of Lehi and his son Nephi, brought to the promised land, failed to abide the conditions of the covenant. But God did not abandon them. After generations had passed and a new one would allow the Lord’s hand to be revealed, the Lord acted.

This is a great type. The Book of Mormon is far more relevant for our day than we imagine. It is a blueprint for how our own history is unfolding. It is a sobering lesson in how to fail and how to wait for the Lord to reclaim and redeem us.

We ignore or misunderstand the content of the Book of Mormon at the peril of our own salvation. When we do, then no one can be saved.”

Continuing further on………..(Bottom of 229, top of 230.)

“Joseph [Smith Jr,] said: Whenever men can find out the will of God and find an administrator legally authorized from God, there is the kingdom of God, but where these are not, the kingdom of God is not. All the ordinances, systems, and administrations on the earth are of no use to the children of men, unless they are ordained and authorized of God; for nothing will save a man but a legal administrator; for none others will be acknowledged either by God or angels. (TPJS, p. 274.) It is for this reason that King Benjamin and Mormon include the final ingredient in [Mosiah 4:] verse 3: “According to the words which King Benjamin had spoken unto them.” They heard the truth from one sent by God, had faith in Christ as a consequence of that, believed, asked and experienced the fruit of conversion, (and finally receive a covenant from God, through His legal administrator.) This is how Christ’s gospel works.” (All emphasis, and stuff in brackets and parenthesis, and out of quotes above is mine.)

THIS IS HOW CHRIST’S GOSPEL WORKS!