I was 20 years old, began the year working as a truck driver - and finished the year as a "regular pioneer", as the JWs like to call those who peddle their literature on a full time basis.
We all got to hear a tape recording of FW Franz's February 10 speech about the significance of 1975, within days of it being given in L.A.
- including his escape clause i.e. the time lag between Adam's creation and that of Eve's.
This did not in any way dampen the excitement being felt by the Witnesses about the date. In the years leading up to 1975, I never heard anybody express reservations about the significance of 1975 - to have done so would have got you branded as "immature" - that ubiquitous JW swearword!.
They also had that bible verse about Armeggedon happening "at a time least expected" covered:
- that statement, we were assured, only applied to "those in the world." Those of us in "The Truth" were privy to special information that the"Worldlies" did not have.
I particularly remember one elder being convinced that the set of tires on his car would last "until Armeggedon" (which he imagined was about six months off). I sure hope he did replace those tires at some point, or they would be looking very bald by now!
Whatever the apologists would have people believe now, the WTS did make a big thing about 1975, and the rank and file Witnesses took it up with great gusto.
PS: According to Raymond Franz, it would seem that the Governing Body also fell for this story. In Crisis of Conscience, he admitted to feelings of excitement about 1975 and the end of the system. As for his uncle (not brother, as some have stated) i.e. Frederick Franz, it would not at all surprize me if the deluded bloody fool actually believed his own propaganda (or came to believe it, as often happens with persons whose minds are not quite right).
Bill.