Posts by witnessofjesus

42

Letter from an anointed reader who DA'd after 33 years

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

dear randy, early this year i requested disassociation from the org and have been meaning to publish some sort of statement.

i was a member for over 33 years and partook of the emblems.

being an older widow it took some deliberation and guts to make the move but am currently very happy with the change.

witnessofjesus

‘Snatching the Doubters out of the Fire’
19 Since we have been warned that “some will fall away from the faith,” we should be ready “to put up a hard fight for the faith that was once for all time delivered to the holy ones.” (1 Tim. 4:1; Jude 3) But a distinction needs to be made between trouble-making apostates, as mentioned in 2 Peter, chapter 2, and Christians who become weak in faith and have doubts through lack of accurate knowledge. Jude makes this distinction. After warning against “murmurers, complainers,” who “are admiring personalities,” and against “ridiculers,” who “are the ones that make separations,” he says: “Keep yourselves in God’s love, while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view. Also, continue showing mercy to some that have doubts; save them by snatching them out of the fire.”—Jude 16-23.
20 Yes, such doubters need to be shown that they are in danger of being consumed by destructive doubts. Their Christian brothers, and particularly the elders, should endeavor to help them, snatching them, if at all possible, out of the “fire” that could destroy them spiritually. As to those who refuse such patient, loving help and who really “fall away from the faith,” we should not be unduly disturbed. With the apostle John, we will say: “They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us.”—1 John 2:19.

I plan on getting baptized as a Jehovah's Witness in 2015, and I encourage those of you who are having doubts, to stick around. Now, to the one who claims to be of the anointed class, may I warn you personally, that should you fall away, you will take yourself 'outside of the doorposts' of Jehovah's protection, and there be subject to the 'angel of death' as given in the type found in Exodus, when God sent the death angel to kill all the 'firstborn of Egypt', if you'll recall, the Israelites were told to put the blood on the doorposts and to keep the firstborn inside the house that night, and as the Little Flock, or Anointed one, or faithful and discreet slave class are antitypically the 'firstborn from the dead', they are alone in danger of 'second death' should they prove unfaithful to Jehovah. Again, I urge you to reconsider and to talk with your congregational elders in regards to this.

42

Letter from an anointed reader who DA'd after 33 years

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

dear randy, early this year i requested disassociation from the org and have been meaning to publish some sort of statement.

i was a member for over 33 years and partook of the emblems.

being an older widow it took some deliberation and guts to make the move but am currently very happy with the change.

witnessofjesus

Yes, I've met a few of those who were once JWs at the meetings of the Bible students, found online at http://www.biblestandard.com and other places. Yes, they were fed up with the WTS rigidity and so they left for freedom of conscience, which the Bible students afford all who involve themselves with them. The Bible students are very much opposed to 'organization' of any kind, and even C. T. Russell taught against 'organization' in the old WT's, so the Bible students deny the thought that Russell established the present-day WTS, but that he only meant it to be a publishing arm, not an organization as it has become. I, for one, wish to give heed the following counsel as found in the August 1, 1980 WatchTower, under the article, "Remain 'Solid in the Faith'", where we read the following as quotes therefrom:

Remain “Solid in the Faith”
“The inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith.”—1 Tim. 4:1.
ARE you profoundly shocked and unduly disturbed when you see or hear of a Christian you know yielding to doubts, cooling off and perhaps even becoming rebellious to the point of deserting the Christian congregation and trying to draw others away with him? If so, you may be comforted in knowing that, sad as such occurrences may be, the Scriptures forewarn us that they will happen.
2 The word “apostasy” comes from a Greek term that means “a standing away from,” “a falling away, defection,” “rebellion, abandonment.” The first one to fall away from the true worship of Jehovah was Satan the Devil. He was therefore the first apostate. (John 8:44) He caused the first human couple to become apostates. (Genesis, chapter 3) Very early in the history of Israel there was a “falling away” or ‘turning aside’ from true worship. We read:
“Even to their judges they did not listen, but they had immoral intercourse with other gods and went bowing down to them. They quickly turned aside from the way in which their forefathers had walked by obeying the commandments of Jehovah.”—Judg. 2:17.
3 Later, many of the kings of both Israel and Judah became apostates and led the nations they were ruling over into a course of apostasy. God first punished the northern kingdom of Israel, saying: “Against an apostate nation [Israel] I shall send him [Assyria].” (Isa. 10:6) And just before the destruction of Jerusalem, capital of Judah, by the Babylonians, Jehovah stated: “From the prophets of Jerusalem apostasy has gone forth to all the land.” (Jer. 23:15) Apostasy or falling away from the true faith certainly brought no blessings to Israel and Judah.
“Solid in the Faith” to the Very End
21 There can be no doubt that Satan would like to see all of us ‘fall away from the faith.’ So Peter counsels us:
“Take your stand against him, solid in the faith, knowing that the same things in the way of sufferings are being accomplished in the entire association of your brothers in the world. But, after you have suffered a little while, the God of all undeserved kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in union with Christ, will himself finish your training, he will make you firm, he will make you strong.”—1 Pet. 5:8-10.
Yes, those of spiritual Israel, who have been called to reign with Christ in “everlasting glory,” must remain faithful in “the hour of test,” if they wish ‘no one to take their crown.’—2 Tim. 2:10; Rev. 3:10, 11.
22 Their companions, members of the “great crowd,” also realize that they must remain “solid in the faith” if they wish to “come out of the great tribulation.” (Rev. 7:9, 10, 14) Both those Christians who have the heavenly hope, and their companions whose hope is to live forever in the restored paradise on earth, are determined to continue faithfully preaching “this good news of the kingdom.” (Matt. 24:14) The fine expansion in many parts of the world, down to this year 1980, is proof to them that Jehovah’s blessing is on his organization, and that there is still work to be done. They therefore heed Paul’s counsel: “Let us not give up in doing what is fine, for in due season we shall reap if we do not tire out.”—Gal. 6:8, 9.
23 As we see the things foretold for “the last days” taking place before our very eyes, we have strong confidence that “the great tribulation” and the dawning of God’s righteous new order are right at the doors. The marvelous blessings that lie just ahead for us, either in heaven or in the earthly paradise, give us “strong encouragement” to remain “solid in the faith” to the very end, in order to “lay hold on the hope set before us.”—Heb. 6:17-19.
“But you, beloved ones, by building up yourselves on your most holy faith, and praying with holy spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love, while you are waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ with everlasting life in view.”—Jude 20, 21.

33

Ready to bail. Have been for a while.

by JustKeepLiving in

jw
friends

hey folks.

this is my first post, and i figured i might as well tell my story and state why i'm here.. i'm the offspring of a elder and ex-pioneer.

being so raised, i was very serious about the truth as a youngster.

witnessofjesus

May I answer each of your questions and make suggestions myself that may be upbuilding for all here:

Podobear, the military is a lot more controlling than the WTS ever has been, it does indeed control just about every facet of your life, and if you work for them or with them, as a DoD civilian, you will be subject to the UCMJ, or the Uniform Code of Military Justice, especially if you wish to work for the US military organization, of which I am currently a part. The Navy is a lot like the WTS in many ways, a parallel could be drawn up like this:

Just as this many of you are fearful of leaving the WTS over fear of being disfellowshipped, because you would lose contact with your family and friends and the like, so also, many in the U.S. military are fearful of leaving the military due to the economic instability of our times- I know, I've become institutionalized myself and accustomed to being told what to wear, what to eat, and what to think for the better part of my adult life, so when I did get out of the military back in 2001 briefly, I informed my new boss that I 'didn't know what to wear to work', becuase there was no prescribed uniform, and no written guidelines to follow and such, the same it seems is simular to the situation that those wishing to leave the WTS are facing, are they not?

jwfacts, Yes, I know that Christians for 2,000 years have been proclaiming the return of our Lord, and I for my part will continue to proclaim the Coming Kingdom of God upon this earth, I do know this, we're closer now than we've ever been, and just as surely as He came then, His kingdom will come again as Daniel 2:44 states it will. If it comes in my lifetime, great!, O what joy! If not, then I'll die happy proclaiming His coming Kingdom until the day of my death, I see no better way to enjoy the REAL LIFE than to do that! I recognize, as did Moses, that sinful pleasures and seeking prestige for myself amongst the world's system of things is NOT the REAL LIFE. I once had plans to run for public office, for Congress and the Senate, and now I've abadoned those plans because salvation is not in political power, but by God's power, the Kingdom is the only TRUE hope of mankind! I appreciate your thoughts though.

From personal experience with those who were disfellowshipped, and/or left the organization I've only seen their lives go to ruins after leaving the Society and the Truth it teaches. How can someone leave the Truth and then begin to believe in the doctrine of eternal torment and hellfire and trinity and immortal soul, I mean, one does not have to throw out the true doctrines taught along with the Society, now do they? I don't think so. Our neighbor for the better part of 5 years was a disfellowship former elder in the local JW congregation of JWs and he and his wife when they left the Org back in 1985 left because their daughter was disfellowshipped for smoking cigarettes, and so the wife got mad at the WTS for disfellowshipping their daughter and so she left, then the husband left and eventually now their entire family is OUT of the Society, and what have they got now? Well, they all are chained smokers, ALL OF 'EM. Their home is caked in cigarette stains on the ceilings where their constant smoking has actually stained the ceiling in their home, and whenever I paid them a visit to just talk about the Bible with them, I left their smelling like an ashtray. They've hired their own private minister to come to their home, and even set a room aside as a meeting place on the side of their home where they now conduct what they call a 'Baptist church' and they have meetings each week, and invite people to visit and sing Baptist hymns and such, and I suppose in their own way, they've found peace with what they've lost, but to me, it makes no sense to leave the teachings just because you left the Teacher. They claim to believe in hellfire, trinity, immortal soul, yet I do not see any of them out door-to-door witnessing trying to rescue souls from hellfire, as I used to do when I was a baptist minister myself. They're smoking is slowly killing them, and ruining their health, and the spiritual smoke they send up each week to God is surely a foul odor in His nostrils because it's error and not truth and the fact that they've hired themselves a personal, private preacher to do their services each week is amazing indeed! I suppose their fear of organizations in general keeps them out of the First Baptist church down the street, or any other organized religion with a building and a board of deacons and a pastorate, etc...

For me, I know that my uncle was a heroine addict when the JWs found him, and he's alive today because they taught him how to read using the NWT and he couldn't be happier serving Jehovah!

From my own experience, I was sex addict, and a porn addict, and an adulterer, and I broke my wife's heart over and over again and slept around with many women, some with and some without condoms and I'm just thankful that I didn't catch any STDs or get any of them pregnant, and that a study of God's word with the JWs was what helped me to become a new man, to put on 'the new personality', as a study with the Mormons never did such for me, it only encouraged me to further godlessness and fornication and lust and porngraphy, etc...al.

For me, the WTS has done nothing but good, it saved my uncle's life back in 1984 when he was baptized and it's saving my life now as I've changed completely since beginning my study of the Bible with the JWs four months ago. Just five to six months ago, I was indeed knee deep in sex addiction and pornography viewing and fornication and having illicite affairs with numerous women, often at the same time, and my mind was just 'sex, sex and where can I get more sex', and my poor wife's heart was broken and I am grateful for Jehovah reaching out His arm and saving my marriage and saving me from further sexual encounters, which I would have sought out had I continued down that path, and I would have eventually gotten an STD and possibly AIDS or HIV, so I'm thankful for the WTS and I will join it when I am not longer in the military, of this I am sure.

We each have our way in life, and I hope you respect and understand mine. I've been set free by Bible truth, and I'm so thankful for it!

Thank you, O Jehovah, for the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society! May I ever be faithful to You, the originator of it, and to your Son, the leader of the Christian congregation for the remainder of my days.

92

1975 - Lest We Forget

by GetBusyLiving in

jw
friends

i find the topic of the 1975 end of the world scenario facinating, especially since i never lived through it.

do you old schoolers ever feel concerned that people will one day forget about what really went down?

with whitewashed tripe like the 'proclaimers' book informing dubs that it was just the false expectations of over enthusiastic apostates, are you at all concerned that the legacy of bullshit that is 1975 will be a forgotten moment in history blamed on you instead where the blame really belongs?

witnessofjesus

Yes, I can see where they did excite the sentiments of the JWs at that time period to becoming more involved in Kingdom Service, but they also did likewise in Russell's day when they said the end would come in 1914, as taught in SITS, volume 3, Thy Kingdom Come, and others. It is sad that many sold their homes and jumped ship in hopes of the end when the Scriptures clearly showed that 'no man knows the hour', and I wish there was some way the Society would make it up to those who thus made such mistakes in future planning, but they have not. I'm certain of this that they, those living at that time and those now living who knew of this, will given an account of their dealings with Jehovah Himself at the judgement bar of God.

I will leave the judging of the Society to Jehovah, as I am dedicating myself to Him and not to an organization, although I do believe that the Society is the publishing arm used by Jehovah to dispense Bible truths to the world of mankind at this time. My wife and I await the time, in God's new system, when we will be able to have perfect health again, and to actually be able to have children, health reasons having prevented us from having any natural children during this system of things.

If you want to go following other gods and believing in hell-fire and damnation, and the immortal soul and the trinity all the lies of Christendom, by all means, go ahead, but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah amongst Jehovah's dedicated people, and we've found no more dedicated people than the JWs. I also used to be a Baptist preacher, and completed four years of seminary, and at the time I graduated high school, I was attending this fundamental, King James only, hell-fire damnation Baptist church in rural south Georgia, and when I graduated I got offere 5 FULL-PAID scholarships to FIVE presitgious universities, but my pastor- one man without an organization, who has such sway over me, discouraged me from attending college as all five of these school were 'liberal and apostate' in his eyes, so I turned down all these schoarships, only to realize later that I had been dupped, much like those in the situation you've described, and when I confronted this preacher about why he discouraged me from going to college, he denied it and said he never did such a thing, but it was TOO LATE, the scholarships were GONE, I had to join the Navy and make my way through college that way, I graduated with my Bachelors in Science in Information Technology Management in 2007 with a 4.0 GPA, straight A's all four years of college, I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I can honestly say that a majority of my papers, probably about 90 percent of them had quotes in them from the Watchtower and Awake! magazines of 2005-2007 and so these magazines were source materials for much of my college papers and I am thankful to the Watchtower for producing such fine literature that not only dispenses Bible truth, but also helps college students get passing grades! I'm not dummie, I have a degree, and I hope to complete my Master's before I retire from the U.S. Navy and then get baptized, so I won't be an idiot, but I will ask all the questions NOW, before I get baptized so I won't bet disfellowshipped afterwards.

Thank you one and all!

33

Ready to bail. Have been for a while.

by JustKeepLiving in

jw
friends

hey folks.

this is my first post, and i figured i might as well tell my story and state why i'm here.. i'm the offspring of a elder and ex-pioneer.

being so raised, i was very serious about the truth as a youngster.

witnessofjesus

Yes, I was baptized at the International Convention of the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement at their July 2000 Convention in Lionsville, PA, and I had thought that I had found the truth, that I was finally dedicating my life to Jehovah God, and I was baptized, not into a religious organization, but unto Jehovah God. However, a few years later, when the local Bible students class that we attended didn't see fit to permit me to ever take the lead among them, I admit, I became upset with their unBiblical practices, such as letting sisters take the lead and act as congregation elders, which was clearly against Pastor Russell's teachings as found in the Six volume of the "SITS", the New Creation, and so I became distraught and my wife and I left and started our own class of Bible students, and then later we burned out and eventually were suckered in the Mormon religion where we remained for over a decade, my wife having been a Mormon since 1978. The LHMM can be found online at http://www.biblestandard.com and they teach almost identical doctrines as the WTS, without the organization to go with it. They have traveling ministers they call pilgrims, just as they did in the days of CT Russell, and in fact, my wife and I had a few visit our home and give discourses to us and we enjoyed their Christian love and fellowship, and they often spoke of the WTS as having fallen away from the Truth, they still believe that the Millennium began in 1874, with Christ's invisible presence, and that we're over a 150 years into the Millennium and that this 'transition' period as they call it, could last for another 150 years, the 1,000 reign of Christ, they say doesn't mean that it will all end aburptly, but that slowly, over the years, Christ will remove all vestiges of this evil system of things through anarchy, world-war and other means. The concept of Armageddon is rarely taught in Bible Student (BS) circles, as Armageddon doesn't mean the end of the wicked, as the JWs teach, but the end of this system of things. In BS thought and teaching, Adam and Eve will be resurrected, along with the previous inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah and Tyre and Sidon and that ALL will be given the opportunity to LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT JEHOVAH, and then at the end of the 1,000 years, when Satan is let loose a short time, those who remain faithful to what they have learned and experienced during the 1,000 years will live past that last battle and into everlasting life on a paradise earth, but those who follow Satan then, will lose all hope of life and be destroyed a second time, thus literally DIE TWICE, from which there is no resurrection. Resurrection only be provided for release from Adamic death, not the second death, if they should die a second time after their first resurrection. They oppose the WTS and have a booklet on their website that 'Examines' the teachings of the JWs from the light of Scripture...but you can check it out yourself if you wish.

Again, I want to do God's will. All I see here is negativity and a tearing down of Jehovah's Organization upon the earth, which makes me doubt whether any of you have my best interests at heart.

33

Ready to bail. Have been for a while.

by JustKeepLiving in

jw
friends

hey folks.

this is my first post, and i figured i might as well tell my story and state why i'm here.. i'm the offspring of a elder and ex-pioneer.

being so raised, i was very serious about the truth as a youngster.

witnessofjesus

For those who are bailing out of the WTS, there are other options than rejecting the Truth outrightly.

The WTS has the basics right, of this I am sure, but if you're looking for fellowship elsewhere, check out the following:

http://www.biblestudents.net/food4jws/

The Bible Students still exist, and they still study the old WT from July 1879-October 1916 and they still teach that Pastor Russell was that 'faithful and discreet slave' and they still use the "Studies in the Scriptures" as their study materials for Class meetings. They still have Conventions annually, several each year; however, they are not united in their message, with some disagreements such as:

One group, the Associated Bible Students (ABS) teach that the High Calling is still open, that the 144,000 have NOT YET been all called, gathered and faithful unto death, and they teach that this group is still being called.

Another group, the Laymen's Home Missionary Movement (LHMM) teach that the High Calling is COMPLETE, that all the 144,000 have already gone to their heavenly reward, that there are 5 classes of people who will inhabit the New World, namely: the 'little flock', the Great Company, the Ancient and Youthful Worthies and the Consecrated Ephiphany Campers, who are now being called out of the world into a consecrated relationship with Jehovah God. They have their annual conventions throughout the earth, and they are the largest of the groups. They use all the same materials as those above, but they have the additional teachings of Professor Paul S.L. Johnson, and his 32 volume set known as "The Epiphany Studies in the Scriptures", and they view him as the "Ephiphany Messenger" who brought this time 'new light' up until the 1950s when he died, he taught he was the LAST one of the 144,000 remaining upon the earth, so at his death, there were no more 'anointed ones' upon the earth, but the Great Company, who are a spirit begotten class according to them, led the movement until Brother Jolley died in 1977 or so and then the Youthful worthies took the lead amongst them, and they're slowly dying off, then the Ephiphany Campers will take the lead until the 'Highway of holiness' is open up into the New World just ahead.

Another group, known as the Free Bible Students, or New Convanant Fellowship, teach that the New Covenant is already active, and that the 144,000 is a figurative number, meaning that more than 144,000 can become 'anointed' and that this work of reaping these is still in progress throughout the earth.

All three of these groups OPPOSE organization, so none of them have organizational claims upon anyone, because Pastor Russell taught AGAINST organization and against imposing one's will upon the conscience of others, and they all categorically deny that he was the founder of the WTB&TS or the Society as presently constituted, and claim that the 'evil slave', Judge Rutherford, whom they all believe to be in Gehenna for his twisting the teaching of the Ransom, was the one who founded the modern-day JW movement of which they have no part.

They still celebrate birthdays, and Christmas and Halloween and all the other holidays of youth and such, and live quiet, normal lives for the most part.

They're a better alternative than Babylon, but some would say they are part of it. You be the judge for yourselves after reading from their websites.

33

Ready to bail. Have been for a while.

by JustKeepLiving in

jw
friends

hey folks.

this is my first post, and i figured i might as well tell my story and state why i'm here.. i'm the offspring of a elder and ex-pioneer.

being so raised, i was very serious about the truth as a youngster.

witnessofjesus

Why you're preparing to 'bail', I'm preparing to enter into the Society and become one of your Brothers in the Truth. Too bad you're on your way out! Now, I wish to state categorically that I disagree with your summamation when you stated the following:

"I was getting disilliusioned with the idea of servitude to a religion that was exerting so much control over its members, frustrating and depressing them, holding out that magic carrot. A future that was NOT coming."

How is the Society 'frustrating and depressing' anyone? I find their publications to be a refreshing change from the 'magic carrot' that Mormonism has held out for my wife and I these past 12 years, just to learn that it was all a lie, that the Book of Mormon is not true, that Joseph Smith was a misguided youth, not a true prophet and that Mormonism is a polytheistic religion, not a monotheistic one.

The 'future that was NOT coming' is infact, coming, God's word promises it, and I believe in the great 1,000-year day Sabbath rest of God that will be ushered in by means of Christ's Coming Kingdom. There were those in Bible times that didn't believe in it, and they lost their faith, and we were warned about such who would exist in our times, those wishing to 'plan out their own future', one that will lead to a hopeless end.

2 Peter 3:3-5 (GOD’S WORD Translation)

3 First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule God’s promise 4 by saying, “What’s happened to his promise to return? Ever since our ancestors died, everything continues as it did from the beginning of the world.” 5 They are deliberately ignoring one fact: Because of God’s word, heaven and earth existed a long time ago. The earth appeared out of water and was kept alive by water.

2 Peter 3:3-5 (Worldwide English (New Testament))

3 Here is the first thing. In the last days, men will come who will make fun of holy things. They will do what they themselves want to do. 4 They will say, `He promised to come. Where is he? Our fathers have died. And since then everything is just the same as it has been since the world was made.' 5 They do not want to remember that long ago God spoke and made the sky. He made the land come up from the water.

You comment that, 'I go to meetings just enough to keep the elders at bay, go in service never, and basically live my social life outside the truth and as I please,' sounds alot like these descibed here who will 'do what they themselves want to do', and not what God's will is.

However, my friend, you may live your life as you please, but you are not free to choose the consequences of such a course in life. Your brother, whom you said, "could'nt stick it out in the world and returned" made the BEST decision of his life by returning to the teachings of the faithful and discreet slave class, he knew and saw firsthand that there is NOTHING outside Jehovah's organization that offers lasting peace and happiness as doing God's will does. Yes, mock as you all may, but remember, that doing God's will is the BEST WAY OF LIFE, and as the Scriptures show in Proverbs 10:, " 22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."

I'm sure we can all agree and be thankful that Jesus didn't come to 'do what [he] wanted to do', he came to do God's will, and as such, we have all been ransomed from the inherited sin passed onto us from Adam as outlined in Romans 5:12.

May what happened to King Zedekiah not happen to you, my friend, where we read that because of his rejection of Jehovah's prophet we read that, "Zedekiah's sons were slaughtered before his eyes, and then Nebuchadnezzar had him BLINDED, BOUND, and led away to BABYLON. (Jer. 39:1-7) How sad an end awaited him because he rejected the very will of Jehovah God! The three B's, the ways in which Satan, the 'god of this system of things' gets us, easily, slowly and he does it in that manner, he blinds you first, then he slowly bounds you with the cords of sin, and then he leads you off to Babylon, or to false religion, whether that religion be so-called atheism, or agnosticism, it's still a form of worship, whether humanistic or not, there are only two beings that we have the choice to worship, either Jehovah or Satan, and if you're not serving the One, you're serving the other.

Again, I'm not a baptized Witness, just a Bible student, studying the Bible with them by the aid of the book, "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" and I"m enjoying learning all of these things from the pages of the Bible, the true word of God, not the Book of Mormon or any other false religious document. I know some of you will mock, or pity me, but I'm now free, set free by Bible truth, and my wife, son and I couldn't be happier! Now, I'm in the military, so it will be some time before I can 'get out' and get baptized, but I cannot wait until the day arrives when I can symbolize my dedication to Jehovah God by water baptism!

We all have 'free will', and saying that a religion is 'controlling you' just doesn't make sense, if you keep your focus on Jehovah, and your relationship with Him, and realize that the Society is here to help us and to act as our publishing arm, then you'll keep in constant focus that it is to Jehovah you are dedicated, and it is to Him you will give an accounting, not to an Organization someday.

48

Voluptuous Vixens Looking to Lose!

by StAnn in

jw
friends

thanks to beks for the title.. i can't stand being a fatty-fat-fatty anymore.

my son is getting married, allegedly next fall, and i want to look good for the wedding.

and i want to look good for myself.

witnessofjesus

Wish you the best on your new diet! You can do it!

92

1975 - Lest We Forget

by GetBusyLiving in

jw
friends

i find the topic of the 1975 end of the world scenario facinating, especially since i never lived through it.

do you old schoolers ever feel concerned that people will one day forget about what really went down?

with whitewashed tripe like the 'proclaimers' book informing dubs that it was just the false expectations of over enthusiastic apostates, are you at all concerned that the legacy of bullshit that is 1975 will be a forgotten moment in history blamed on you instead where the blame really belongs?

witnessofjesus

I think all of these so-called failed prophecies are not as much a fiasco as those of you who are ex-JWs make 'em out to be. I've got just about every piece of literature produced by the Society and I can say that I haven't seen it, and I think these predictions were used by Jehovah to performa sifting work amongst His people, to determine who His true followers are, and who were not, and those who left were obviously not 'sheep' as they once thought they were.

JWs do encourage staying amongst those in the congregation, just as the Jews of ancient times were likewise warned by Jehovah to refrain from associations with those of the nations, so there is a strong Biblical parallel between these two faiths, once which I find very appealing. The Mormons used to do the same thing, in fact, they used to encourage all converts to move to Utah territory until sometime in the last 1890s and early 20th century, when they changed the policy and began to encourage converts to establish 'stakes of Zion' wherever they were at.

59

Which is worse - the Jehovah's Witness or the Mormons?

by inquirer in

jw
friends

if someone put a gun to your head and you had to choose, which one would you say is the worst?

also, which religion is more doctrinally incorrect?

which religion has the most false end of the world dates?

witnessofjesus

Having been a Mormon elder for the past 12 years, I can say that I'd rather be a JW, than a Mormon, at least the JWs have the basic fundamental truths of Christianity correct, such as no trinity, no immortal soul and no burning hell. Mormons on the other hand worship a patheon of gods, and goddesses, which we believe we would become someday if found faithful, and the Mormons, although they like educated people, and teach that the 'glory fo God is intelligence', as one of the verses in one of their modern books of scripture teaches, they also excommunicated educated BYU professors who dare oppose or speak out openly against their beloved prophets, or their Book of Mormon. In fact, as recently as 2006, they made a drastic change in the forward to the Book of Mormon, which once stated that the Lamanites, the children of Laman, son of Lehi, were the 'PRINCIPLE ancestors of the American Indians', now since DNA evidence is so clearly against such a position, the Mormons changed this to read, "AMONG the ancestors of the American Indians', so they're no longer the PRINCIPLE ancestors, but AMONG the ancestors, and the General Authorities of the Church didn't even have the decency to tell the average Mormon of these changes, I found out by viewing ex-Mormon sites on the internet and then went and verified the updated reading myself.

Having been sealed in the Temple to my wife, and having to wear the Mormon temple garment underwear, which isn't cheap, and only being able to buy it from the LDS distribution centers throughout the world, I can say, that I'd rather be a JW, than a Mormon anyday. Yes, inactives are looked unfavorably upon, and Mormons do not shun people as the JWs do, they strive to help the repentant sinner return to the fold, that is the #1 goal in doing the monthly "Home Teaching" assignments, where men are assigned five families to visit each month, and where the women do "Visiting Teaching" and go to their assigned five families each month, some active, some not and give an hour long lesson to encourage them to either remain faithful, or to return to the fold of activity. Mormon do teach that their Church, is the Kingdom of God upon the earth, that it is the 'stone cut out of the mountain without hands that will fill the whole earth.'

They teach that Jesus, before He came to earth, was known as Jehovah, and that Adam was Michael the Archangel before he was sent here to earth to be the 'father of our race', and that Jesus and Satan are spirit brothers, and that in fact, Satan is also our spirit brother and that Heavenly Father has multiple wives in heaven, that He is also a polygamous spirit and that we likewise can have billions of spirit wives when we get to heaven. This is well documented teachings of theirs found at their official site of http://www.lds.org