Thanks for starting the thread.
You make “numerous” points.
You compare Jehovahs Witnesses to David Koresh and the church of the solar temple? Is this fair??
The were, and still are, gun totting crazies who clearly had loose morals to put it mildly. You may have your gripes with JWs but we clearly have a good moral standing in comparison to most.
Regarding the Faithful and Discreet slave, this is a regular topic on this forum. Everything that can be said has been.
Joseph Smith did make claims, fantastic claims, but were they ever proven?
The golden tablets he was apparently shown, where are they?
Members of the Faithful slave have never made fantastical claims to have seen visions or visits by angels etc. By their works is proof enough for me they are the Faithful and Discreet Slave.
They are not the money grabbing millionaires that some claim here. (Quite a ridiculous claim)
GB members (in fact, all Bethelites) need to sign a legal document (a declaration of poverty) to prevent abuse of the finances of the Org.
The Faithful slave would give an increasing understanding to scripture and prophecy in the last days.
They would point to the bible as the key authority for the promised food at the proper time.
They would focus clearly on the urgent work of preaching the good news of the kingdom.
No-one fits this description better.
Are the Governing Body or any of the anointed perfect? No. It is unrealistic to expect perfection when it is clearly impossible.
This results in the mistakes being made, even failed prediction in the past. Not since the early 2oth century.
(And please do not mention 1975 – where I live no-one even noticed 1975, did not expect anything.)