Dear friends!
Anthony Morris is a member of the governing body. Here are some notes from a talk he gave at a special
assembly day. I really think this is excellent and encourage everyone to read it!
Eileen
Subject: Tony
Morris' talk at special assembly day notes.
Br.Tony Morris (he's a member of the Governing Body) Wasn’t raised in the truth. In fact discussed
his experiences in Vietnam. Raised two sons. In other words, he understands real life,
but very pointed counsel. Word for word:-
“Brothers and sisters if you are not doing family worship night, you will not be ready for survival at
Armageddon!”
The GB has worked hard to convey the seriousness of this arrangement. It cannot be underestimated. Now
you have a choice whether or not you will listen to the counsel….but remember, you’ve been warned.”
Then another part of the talk he asked, “Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all. You could die this
afternoon. As you sit there are you certain that your course of life would guarantee that you are in Jehovah’s
memory and you would receive a resurrection?” Then he talked a lot about materialism too….hitting it
hard. He said it’s not wrong to have a house…but are you caught up in the American dream that you have
to have a house?
Then he went in and talked about the bursting of the housing bubble and the government giving houses to
people who shouldn’t have had them….no verification of income….not adequate income, etc….and he said
many brothers and sisters got caught up in that (…..but you know, two years before the bottom fell
out….we had a Circuit Assembly about keeping your life simple….those that followed Jehovah's
counsel have survived so much heartache. So what about today’s counsel…..the “Time Left is
Reduced”…is our theme…will you follow the counsel today. The way you live your life in these hard
economic times, does it show you are trusting in Jehovah for your necessities or does it show you are
trusting in yourself and you material things and taking matters into your own hands.
Then he gave an experience of a sister he met when they were still doing circuit work. Middle aged
sister…very faithful. Had them over for lunch to her small and simple apartment. Now he said he knew the
sister had a nerve problem….somewhat of a mental condition….like an anxiety disorder…but he never
knew why and didn’t ask. Well through the course of conversation, she opens up to them and tells them that
she used to have a house. And she was bent on having the perfect house. Perfect decorating…perfect
furniture…everything just so. She came home one night and her entire house was engulfed in flames. She
lost everything. As a result, she had a nervous breakdown and has never fully recovered. She said after that
it taught her a lesson and she vowed NEVER to be that attached to material things because she realized how
fleeting these things are. Then he said to the audience, bros. and sis. How attached to material things are
you? How would you feel right now if you lost everything?
Then he discussed the importance of daily Bible reading. He said he and Sister Morris, no matter where
they are in the world, every morning have their cup of coffee and read their Bible. Not together. He said
Bible reading is a personal thing. He then asked the audience how many have a cup of coffee every
morning? Almost the whole audience raised their hand. Then he said, bros. and sis. If you can have a cup
of coffee every morning, then you can read your Bible every morning.
Also in talking about materialism, he talked about debt and credit cards. He pulled out his credit card. He
said now we have to have a credit card today. Even I have one. You can’t even rent a car without one. But
you know what credit cards are? Plastic anesthesia. Why is that? Well, let’s say you need some clothes. So
you go to the store to buy them knowing how much you want to spend. But you get there and the retailers,
because it’s their job, have signs all over…”Two for One” “50% off”…suddenly you think, well….I don’t
need two…but if they’re 50% off then I should probably get two for when I need them later…oh wait…I’ll
get one for my husband…and the kids of course…walk up to the cash register…..the cashier swipes the
card…and guess what…pain free. The card swipes…you feel nothing…and you leave….until the bill
comes. Now imagine when you go to the store you counting out the actual cash you are spending….little
more painful isn’t it…suddenly the reality of how much you’re spending is real…and you’re feeling it. Be
careful of credit cards. If you don’t have the cash to back up the credit card swipe, don’t spend it.
Let’s see what else…Oh yeah…he talked about being in the truth for a long time….we’re always getting
counsel. We always need to be making adjustments. He said often times I hear well Br. Morris…”this is
just the way I am!” Well you know what, Jehovah may not like the way you are. (the audience started
laughing) He said this is not a union. Seniority doesn’t mean salvation.
He repeatedly said with all his counsel….this is not the GB saying this…this is Jehovah speaking to you.
He also kept saying after each point of counsel, “remember…it’s YOUR choice whether or not you will
listen….but just know….you’ve been warned.” He also emphasized remembering that the day of
Armageddon has been set. Nothing about our life is going to change that day. If we preach more…it’s not
going to change that day. That day has been set. So, when we’re going through hardships, be careful that
you don’t say, “if only Armageddon would come I wouldn’t be going through this.” Remember, it’s not
about you. Remember the big picture. It’s about Jehovah’s universal sovereignty. And don’t say,
“I hope that Jehovah holds out a little longer so that uncle John will make it through.” Jehovah said when
the anointed are sealed, the angels will release the four winds.
Nothing about when Armageddon comes depends on us or our lives. We just need to obey and keep
preaching. He gave the example of the huge project that’s being done in Waikill. He said that they just
showed the Bethel family a 15 minute video the other night about the renovation and new building project
that will be done over the next 4 years. He said after the video was shown he overheard a dear old sister
who’s been there forever say, “well, I guess that means Armageddon won’t be coming in the next four
years.” He said, now I didn’t say anything to her and embarrass her in front of everyone, but I thought to
myself, “oh my goodness we approved the showing of that video and I don’t remember that being part of
the dialogue.” So, he said that night he went back and re watched it. He said, brother and sisters……we are
going to be in the midst of Kingdom activity when the end comes. We will be building, we will be
preaching, we will be planning conventions, building Kingdom Halls……there’s not going to be a pause
when the end comes. We need to keep going….keep carrying out Jehovah’s will. And I’m pretty sure when
the end comes no one is going to say, “oh no…...we didn’t get to attend that convention. I was so looking
forward to it.” Keep putting Kingdom interests first.
Then at the end he talked about how ready are we for the end. Are we really ready? Is our faith really
strong? We need to make adjustments now. He said, “I was in Vietnam. I have seen mass death....human
casualties. I have smelled burning human flesh after a helicopter crash. I saw only a glimpse of what it will
probably be like at Armageddon. We must be prepared.”