Did anyone here claim to be of the anointed and partook of the emblems at memorial when you were still a witness???
I partook for 3 years "inside", dear JediM (may you have peace!). I wanted to partake the entire time I was in, but learned very early that "they" wouldn't be able to handle it. I did not want them to take it out on my family, so I refrained. And that was the ONLY reason that I refrained. And it was very hard. I told the "elders", virtually from day one (I told the two ladies I studied with - of course, it was dismissed at that time), the Book Study Conductor(s), and the PO(s). For 14 years...
If so, was there really a force telling you, you were special and would go to heaven?
Not quite. There was a voice that would ask me, every year... "You have passed life by. Why?" And every year... EVERY year... I would feel shame for doing so and vow to do it the next year. And the next year, the "fear" of what "they"... and their children... would do/say to my children... prevented me. It was devastating. Each year. And each year, I would speak with the Book Study Conductor, who would tell the PO, who would come visit me... with the current CO. Because my "conscience" really bothered me. And every year... they would ask the same canned questions. One year, I had a CO kind of go off on me about it.
As for a voice telling me that I was special... nope. Quite the contrary. It told me that I was a "servant" and that I needed to be a servant to all. Not what folks lead you to expect at all - LOLOLOL!
Or was it more so overjoy at how spritual you though you were?
Ummmm... I can't say that "joy" was one of the emotions I felt. Trust me, there were times when I TRIED to ignore the voice and its question. But I couldn't and I felt, really, like crap. Always took me DAYS to "recover." I felt like I had turned my back on my best friend... that I was a coward... and that my fear of "them" counted for more than my love... and loyalty... to that friend. Nope, the joy didn't come until AFTER I "obeyed." THEN... the joy... and certain other "fruit" (as well as certain gifts) of the spirit... virtually began to flow... and gain momentum like nothing I can describe... and has ever since. Some, like joy, even began to overflow. It truly IS like a "fountain", if not a floodgate... has been opened within you... bubbling up... literally.
Or people telling you maybe you were??
LOLOLOLOL! Ohhhh, noooo... THAT never happened - LOLOLOLOLOLOL! Quite the opposite, actually. Because elders do NOT keep your discussions confidential (don't you believe that lie!)... the whispers stared years before. But when I finally DID do the deed... well, you should have HEARD the car-group conversations! Good Lordy, talk about your gossip, spite, bitterness, and lack of love!! I now TRULY know what my Lord meant when he said, "Weeping and gnashing of teeth"! Folks LITERALLY gnashed their teeth!! (And still do, poor things. It is SO curious... and sad... to me... that they even THINK of me to do so! ME! WHY??? I am NOTHING to them. Why all the... ummm... concern, good OR bad? Why anything? What do they CARE? I mean, if I am wrong, won't the Most Holy One of Israel take care of that? What does it add to or take away from their lives? But, apparently, they do care. Aapprently, a lot.
And, yep, their children started in on my children. Heck, some of "them" started in. Praise JAH, my children well knew what I was going through by that time and had absolutely NO problem with it (actually, they were, like, "Mom, look... partake already! STOP worrying about them... and quit worrying about us... and do what YOU need to do. We'll be fine!"). And they were. And so I did. And they fielded the nasty questions, comments... and insults... just fine. And now... they both partake... out of faith... and my daughter (age 32) received holy spirit last year (Acts 2:39). So that now... she really "gets" me (or so she says - LOLOLOL!)! It is wonderful!!
Just curious to see what your experience was both personally and with other witnesses or your family.
Well, that's mine.
after the big changeover of the Governing Body in the 1970s I heard that someone who was really one of the "anointed" would never tell a non-anointed person how "the anointed know they are anointed."
I won't comment on your "brother's" experience, dear JV (may you, too, have peace!). I personally don't get how anyone can say they are "anointed"... meaning they have RECEIVED HOLY SPIRIT... and not talk about it. Not SING about it. I just don't get it. You CAN'T be silent. How CAN you? It doesn't ALLOW you to be. You are merely an INSTRUMENT... of that spirit... the fruits of which are love... JOY... peace... FAITH... goodness... kindness, mildness, patience, and self-control. While I admit I am still working on the first one and last five, and still need help with peace and faith... my JOY is abundant. Life... IS good.
Also, anyone who says/teaches this (i.e., that they would never tell how), doesn't have a CLUE as to what they're talking about. Only a non-anointed who falsely claims to be an anointed... couldn't explain how he/she knows... and would say such a thing.
Anyway, I hope this helps, dear Jedi... and the greatest of love and peace to you!
A slave of Christ,
SA, who used to marvel at all that "solemness" in the WTBTS... and all that "Wait until Armageddon-ness" and wonder... where is the LOVE? Where is the JOY? Now I understand... there is NO holy spirit there... and thus NO love... and NO joy. For both are FRUITS of God's holy spirit!