THE QUOTE THE WBATS DENIES MAKING OF 1975!!! (page 3)

St George of England

@Bungi Bill

The GB as we now know it was actually in operation from October 1, 1971. See WT December 15, 1971 page 755.

George

Bungi Bill

St George,

Thanks for clarifying that point!

At the convention held in Baltimore, Maryland, F. W. Franz gave the concluding talk. He began by saying: “Just before I got on the platform a young man came to me and said, ‘Say, what does this 1975 mean?’” Brother Franz then referred to the many questions that had arisen as to whether the material in the new book meant that by 1975 Armageddon would be finished, and Satan would be bound. He stated, in essence: ‘It could. But we are not saying. All things are possible with God. But we are not saying. And don’t any of you be specific in saying anything that is going to happen between now and 1975. But the big point of it all is this, dear friends: Time is short. Time is running out, no question about that.’

In the years following 1966, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses acted in harmony with the spirit of that counsel. However, other statements were published on this subject, and some were likely more definite than advisable. This was acknowledged in The Watchtower of March 15, 1980 (page 17). But Jehovah’s Witnesses were also cautioned to concentrate mainly on doing Jehovah’s will and not to be swept up by dates and expectations of an early salvation.

leaving_quietly

1980 Yearbook, pp. 30-31:

Many were the appreciative comments heard on the symposium dealing with “Soundness of Mind in a Mixed-up World.” These talks underscored the value of cultivating a realistic view of life; of forming trusted relations with Jehovah God and our brothers; of strengthening our Bible-based hope and the will to live, as well as of allowing for variety and recreation in one’s life. A fine point made in the talk “Choosing the Best Way of Life” was that Jehovah God will save us from stumbling—even as he did David in the case of Nabal’s insolence—but we must do our part. The brothers also appreciated the candor of this same talk, which acknowledged the Society’s responsibility for some of the disappointment a number felt regarding 1975.

Ding

The GB is never "wrong."

They just have "failed expectations."

Bungi Bill

Leaving quietly,

That is about as close as they (the WTS/GB) ever came to admitting they were wrong over that one. It is noteworthy, too, that it took until 1980 to get any sort of "apology" out of them about 1975!

Also, according to Raymond Franz in Crisis of Conscience, this was a much watered-down apology than the one he suggested (while still a GB member).

Bill.

GLTirebiter

The Governing Body never said this.

But the president of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society did! See this previous thread about Fred Franz's failed prophecy about 1975. Specifically, Franz cited the date September 5th 1975 (about 40 seconds into the linked video).

ADJUSTMENTS

LQ

The brothers also appreciated the candor of this same talk, which acknowledged the Society’s responsibility for some of the disappointment a number felt regarding 1975.

LQ what was the so called quote from the 1980 talk that acknowledged the Society's responsibility??? I have never heard it!!! The last thing I've heard was a comment made by a sister in 2013 last Sunday at the kingdom hall who stated : We don't want to become like some of the friends in 1975 who got a little over zealous and decided to go ahead of society, we need to wait on the GB to make sound decisions... Then what followed were a lot of head nods unitedly in agreement! SMH! So LQ its nice ( and I say it sarcasticly) that the society wants to so called apologize in 1980 but it's etched into the minds of all faithful JWs TODAY that the WTBATS did not make such statements. So that apology was a halfhearted (if that) apology and way to stop the bleeding of JWs in mass leaving the WBATS, 5 years later as mentioned by BB, and only after seeing the damaged caused. Then to say for SOME of the disappointment... How about ALL!!! The GB is to arrogant and incompetent to do so! They are not inspired by anything but their own false hearts!!!