My parents were already witnesses when I was born, therefore I was raised in their version of “the truth”. I was baptized at the age of 11, and became a regular pioneer at the age of 13. I did that for about 5 years, and honestly they weren’t all bad times. A lot of my friends then pioneered too, so we spent a lot of time goofing around out in service. I was named a MS at the age of 18 and did get to the point where I went out and gave public talks, brought a couple of people into the truth. I finally moved to a cong that needed more help. I married and we had two beautiful little girls.
During my marriage, I lost my privileges because the elders felt I wasn’t fulfilling my obligations to the maximum. (I was married and a father now, but that didn’t matter.) When I lost all privileges I became discouraged and stopped attending meetings. At first I felt guilty, but all those doubts in my mind that I had pondered on since I was a teenager began to come up again, and this time I began to investigate them instead of ignoring them. OMG! Was I in for an eye opener. I couldn't believe was I was hearing and reading.
My wife decided she wanted “greener pastures” and left me for a co-worker, and we divorced the next year. I had to get my bearings, start over a single life, and raise my two daughters now. I moved again, and that time made no efforts to find the nearest cong. The elders found me though and counseled me, but to no avail. I wasn’t going back. I found a “worldly girlfriend” and decided my life was better off.
But the elders had other plans…
(to be cont’d)