Phoebe: January 29th - my baptism date. Can you remember how you felt at your baptism?
I never did get baptized but I do remember 52 years ago. This photo was taken in the summer of '67 at an assembly in Canada.
That's my Dad leading that newly baptized person out of the pool. And that is me watching - the 10 year old girl at the side dressed in a green dress and white cardigan - I was so proud of my dad...he was the best as far as I was concerned. He always did the dunking at assemblies - a big strong farm boy that could handle most of the big and heavy ones getting baptized (he couldn't swim and almost got drowned a couple times!)
Mom and Dad had a rule in our house - you couldn't get baptized before you turned 16. So my older brother and sister did the deed but I never did. I wasn't very old when I figured out that being baptized meant that you could get into deep shit if you screwed up and then that meant that you missed the Paradise train.
However, being unbaptized meant that when I stopped going to meetings when I was 13/14, I became a target for any and all JWs that came into my world. By that time, my mom had been disfellowshipped and my dad was fading. Only my older bro and sis were part of the special elite class of the baptized ones with jehober's favor.
Shortly after I had quit attending meetings I got a visit from two of the "brothers" (pre-elder days), they were sneaky about it because they arrived within minutes after my mother leaving for work and I was home alone. They came inside and gave me the talk about "not making it through Armageddon" (which was going to be here in only a few years!!! damn that '75 crap). I was so upset that they had pushed their way into the house when I was by myself and I remember being really scared and nervous but determined not to give in. So when they threatened me with death at Armageddon, and actually said that "if Armageddon comes tomorrow, you won't make it", I responded with:
"Just going back to meetings won't save me. Because according to your teachings, I would be destroyed anyways. Unbaptized children are judged on the actions of their parents and you guys kicked my mom out and my dad has stopped going. I think you need to leave now."
They didn't know what to say...they left all red faced and then my mom blew her lid when she found out what they had done. Both those "brothers" got earful from her when she phoned them.
I am so so glad that I never did the water bath.