Question: Does any one remember what it was the Watchtower put out shortly after all the Michael Jackson eruption? I remember there were comments, but just shy of a name. We all knew who they were talking about. Any one remember?
Answer #1: I can add to this the known fact that the Watchtower Society harassed Jackson about the Thriller video, causing him to add a disclaimer to the video that it did not represent his beliefs about the supernatural. He also gave an 'interview' in the Awake! magazine saying he was naughty and sorry and he would never do it again. Does anyone have that?
One of the more difficult issues facing a divided household where one of the marriage partners is a Jehovah's Witness is the subject of divorce. Child custody issues often follow. Even the Watchtower Society acknowledges the increase in court appearances on family issues involving a non-Witness mate. The Awake! of 9/22/92, p. 11 says,
Much of the world was saddened last week by the death of Michael Jackson, famous pop star known and loved by millions. It will be helpful to many to read a quick review of comments and anecdotes about Michael's religious beliefs and his upbringing in the Jehovah's Witness sect, and how it influenced his life and his dreams, and perhaps even his ultimate demise.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he made his début to the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1969, and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, his 1982 album Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time and four other solo studio albums are also among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous(1991) and HIStory (1995).
In the last few years since the popular advent of the internet, the Watchtower has warned its members on several occasions not to spend (i.e., waste) time on the internet, for several reasons:
1. the time is better spent pursuing "Kingdom interests"
2. Web sites can be deceiving without being cleared by the "mother" organization
3. You can actually come across information on the net that can lead you into apostasy
This paper researches the history of the racism found in the official teachings of the Watchtower Bible and Track Society, whose followers are now known as Jehovah's Witnesses. Their history reveals they are not free of racism as they now claim, but have manifested extreme racists views in their official, mandatory teachings. Even though 52% of the Witness' membership are non-white, not a single minority person held a leadership position in 1994.
reprinted from the Mar/Apr 1990 Bethel Ministries Newsletter
Jim and Cathy were happily married for 14 years. They have three children, Beth (12), Andrew (11) and Toni (9). Jim did not object when Cathy started having "Bible studies" in their home with the Jehovah's Witnesses. He thought they were just another Christian denomination. Three years later, she was divorcing him and seeking custody of the children. Cathy had become a Jehovah's Witness, and was determined that her children would be brought up in what she referred to as the "discipline and mental regulating of Jehovah," but her husband called it mind control.
reprint of the Mar/Apr 1992 Bethel Ministries Newsletter
I don't believe a day ever passes without my getting a distress call from either a woman whose husband is a Jehovah's Witness and is a tyrant, or who is seeking to leave the Watchtower and her husband is threatening divorce, or worse. What could be worse, you say? Usually these situations are accompanied by either physical or emotional abuse, and often if there are children the threat of a custody suit is hung over the woman's head.
In many churches today (as well as societies) women are treated as second-class citizens. Some churches do not allow woman to perform even a simple task in the functions of the church such as, researching for sermons, organizing church activities, assisting with seating or sound functions, sharing their thoughts and ideas on matters or any other activities. Some churches however, go completely opposite and ordain woman as ministers, allow them to give public talks and use them in every area of church functions or business. Which way is the correct way? While there can be no absolutes and it is up to the church itself as mandated by their own conscience what role women should play, looking at the view of women held in the early church and more importantly by our Lord Jesus himself can help us have a balanced view in this area.
The following is in response to a private email as to why I discounted the supposed tale of “Satan worshippers in the tunnels of Bethel”, as well as other hearsay accounts of Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) in the Watchtower organization… which is the same reason I don’t believe Pat Garza’s tale of Governing Body member Ted Jaracz being a child molester. Lack of evidence from an uncritical source.
I'm the little four eyed geek in the middle wearing the Circuit Assembly placard. In the Bronx we used to hold them at this place called Hunts Point Palace. It was a real speak easy during the prohibition days and owned by the mob. Many big name bands preformed there during between the 30s and 60s. My high school was right around corner and we used the place for graduation ceremonies.
In one of our conversations together, my friend Rabbi Shmuley told me that he had asked some of his colleagues–-writers, thinkers, and artists-–to pen their reflections on the Sabbath. He then suggested that I write down my own thoughts on the subject, a project I found intriguing and timely due to the recent death of Rose Fine, a Jewish woman who was my beloved childhood tutor and who traveled with me and my brothers when we were all in the Jackson Five.
I was born in November 1946, the oldest of 4 children, 2 more sisters and one brother, who all followed over a 5 year period. Mum had married dad in 1941, but they weren't JWs then, so he went to war, and was in the Normandy landings, while she worked on the land. The truth came to our family via my great - aunt, who moved in with my grandparents in 1943, and proceeded to try to convert the whole house. My granddad never succumbed, but my grandma and mum did, as well as her sister. When dad came back from the war, mum was almost ready for baptism, and dad started studying himself, made rapid progress and was baptised in July 1946, when I was well on my way. He told me years later that it was the JW teaching on hell that got him hooked - he had been to hell already as far as he was concerned, it was called Gold Beach in the Normandy invasion, and he was more than happy to accept a teaching that said he wouldn't have to go back there.
Leaders of authoritarian religions typically reflect a parental attitude towards their followers, claiming to be the proper road to God, if THEIR disciplines are followed. The way of travel is supposedly "upward," to a more mature or glorified position in life. Therefore there is usually a "master plan," or prescribed pathway, to follow to attain such heights. Most all have their requirements for being saved. Those who don’t measure up are lost, or punished, both now and in the future. Obviously, fear and guilt are automatic by-products of such an environment.
article printed in the Jan/Feb 1994 issue of the Free Minds Journal
El amor no hace girar al mundo. Lo que sí hace es que valga la pena el viaje. Franklin P. Jones
Cambiar los viejos patrones de pensamiento y conducta
Entre más tiempo pase una persona en un grupo como la Watchtower, más probable será que ciertas características que son propias de una secta estén profundamente arraigadas en su personalidad. La más común de todas esas características es una mentalidad que todo lo ve como "blanco" o "negro" y simplifica al extremo los problemas morales de la vida cotidiana. Además se crea una mentalidad de vivir bajo sitio porque se insiste en la batalla de la luz contra la oscuridad, Dios contra el Diablo, la verdad contra el error. Se cree que todo el universo está al pendiente de lo que uno escoja hacer cada día, y por eso la persona que pertenece a la secta soporta mucha presión y un gran sentimiento de culpa, que sirven para que la persona sienta que no debe decepcionar a Dios y a sus ángeles.
*** Awake! g03 9/22 pp. 23-24 The Piñata-An Ancient Tradition ***
The Piñata Today
Later, the piñata became part of the festivities of the posadas during the Christmas season and continues as such to this day. (A star-shaped piñata is used to represent the star that guided the astrologers to Bethlehem.) Breaking the piñata is also considered indispensable at birthday parties. Indeed, piñatas have become so traditionally Mexican that Mexico even exports them to other countries.
Forty adults who were alienated from a parent as a child participated in a qualitative research study about their experience. A content analysis was conducted on the transcripts and a comparison was undertaken to identify similarities between alienating parents and cult leaders. Results revealed that adults whose parents alienated them from their other parent described the alienating parent much the way former cult members describe cult leaders. The alienating parents were described as narcissistic and requiring excessive devotion and loyalty, especially at the expense of the targeted parent. The alienating parents also were found to utilize many of the same emotional manipulation and persuasion techniques cult leaders use to heighten dependency on them. And, finally, the alienating parents seemed to benefit from the alienation much the way cult leaders benefit from the cult: they have excessive control, power, and adulation. Likewise, the participants reported many of the same negative outcomes that former cult members experience such as low self-esteem, guilt, depression, and lack of trust in themselves and others. These findings can provide a useful framework for conceptualizing the experience of parental alienation and should also be useful for therapists who provide counseling and treatment to adults who experienced alienation as a child.
Since their origins in late nineteenth-century America, the Jehovah's Witnesses have evolved into a well-defined and efficiently organized religious group of global proportions. Recent Society statistics indicate that less than one fourth of contemporary Witnesses live in the country of the movement's birth; the Society now claims a world-wide core membership of over four million.1
Discussion of the many fears that the Watchtower ingrains in the Jehovah's Witness, and the talk is mostly audience participation. Meet many ex-JWs and listen to how they overcame their fears. Good for those anticipating leaving the Watchtower or those whose families are still in it. Parts one and two, about 40 minutes each. Though filmed in 1990, all the issues are exactly the same in 2009.
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
In the United States there are over 1,000 custody cases fought annually involving Jehovah's Witnesses. Most involve a young couple in which the mother is converted to the Witnesses, severely alienating the father, and resulting in a divorce. Because the non-Witness fighting for custody is typically the father, the author recounted primarily the difficulties encountered in these kinds of cases.
The major concern of the fathers is that raising their children as Jehovah's Witnesses is not conductive of achieving the goals that most fathers deem important for their children. These include normal social involvement in school, attending college, pursuing a career, being able to utilize appropriate medical treatment, and the development of tolerance toward humans of a variety of religious faiths and orientations.
It is always good to hear from someone you haven't heard from or seen in 25 years.
Especially if they were a Witness in your congregation and are now out! I will call her "Joy" as she wishes to remain anonymous for now, but this is the dialogue I've had with her over the last week. Notice the typical aspects that often accompany those that leave the organization, such as elders covering things up, stalking issues, shunning, little income due to pioneering or Bethel life, finding better friends and moving on with your life, but not wanting to remember a lot of it.
In many churches today (as well as societies) women are treated as second-class citizens. Some churches do not allow woman to perform even a simple task in the functions of the church such as, researching for sermons, organizing church activities, assisting with seating or sound functions, sharing their thoughts and ideas on matters or any other activities. Some churches however, go completely opposite and ordain woman as ministers, allow them to give public talks and use them in every area of church functions or business. Which way is the correct way?
I am 34 years old, a teacher, and a respected member of society. I was an outstanding JW my whole life with many friends and people that loved me.
When I was 14 years old I was pursued by a 21 year old man who eventually 'got' me, he was older/had money and I wanted to have some fun with him. I only wanted to date, but as you know, this is not allowed in the JW religion, only with the intent to marry. I sure did not want to marry him, but eventually one thing led to another and we had premarital sex...the BIGGEST taboo and guilt trip laid on JW teenagers! He told me that the only way to get rid of this sin was to get married and that would nullify our sin by making it 'pure'. I was sick with guilt and agreed.
Does the Governing Body (hereafter GB) of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah's Witnesses (hereafter WT) understand the dynamics of the institution of marriage? ... and do they comprehend what is involved in maintaining a healthy and happy marriage? If they do understand both those factors, then is a diversion away from what they admit is needed for a successful marriage a willful attempt on the part of the GB through the WT, to sabotage the marriage?
It will be the purpose of this article to answer these questions and raise others. The following is a series of quotes from Watchtower publications.
I was raised as a 4th generation Jehovah's Witness in Georgia. I'm now 28, and the long and short of it is this: Having the family clout of 4 generations behind me, I was able to do pretty much as I wished, although I honestly did believe I had the truth. I chose to be celibate, didn't date women, and was best friends with another "celibate" gay teen. Everyone thought we were dating. No one would approach me about it, though. It wasn't until after I quit 3 years ago that a friend mentioned that to me.
I was raised from birth as one of Jehovah Witnesses. I knew of no other way of living and of course, thought that there was no other way!
As a teenager I was an over achiever always striving hard for Good grades, I loved to learn. I excelled in many areas, like music, art, debate, oratory, athletics, and drama. But I became bitter as a teenage because everything was off limits to me, honor clubs, marching band, dances, softball, any and all of the things that, as children help us to explore our strengths and weaknesses, were forbidden to me. So I was not very proud of my religion and tried to hide it as much as I could. I always avoided all the normal questions people asked, and if possible, I never admitted to being a JW (short for a Jehovah's Witnesses).
Michael Jackson the former Jehovah's Witnesses has died of cardiac arrest it has been reported in Los Angeles today, Thursday 25th June. The reclusive star was reported to have had issues with prescription drugs during the buildup to a 50 date London tour. Firefighters arrived to a 911 call to his Bel Air home after he had collapsed and took him to UCLA Medical Center.
I feel the need to express how I feel and felt about my life as a gay man. I was brought up from birth as a Jehovah’s Witness. This has played a major part in my life and it has been a real struggle to get past.
I remember when I was really young, feeling strange whenever I would see a man without a shirt on. I used to get really giggly and flustered. Picking up little crush’s for some men I didn’t understand that I was gay. As the years went on I continued to have these feelings and as I got into high school they started getting stronger.
Hello. I am new in here but certainly not new to the JWs or to recovery from them. I come here by a rather long windy path but here I am. FREE!!!
I was introduced to the JWs when I was 11 years old when my mother starting studying with them. Within a year I asked to be baptized but was told I should wait until I was older. Shortly after problems at home resulted in my being placed in a foster home in another city. I lost touch with my family and the JWs for three years.
Parents obviously have a very powerful influence on their children. Even when they are abusive and insensitive towards their offspring, children still desire whatever vestige of love and approval they can get from their parents, and will often be obedient just to receive attention and care. Understanding this dynamic helps to explain how children growing up in the Watch Tower may be so heavily influenced by the need for approval that they are willing to give up whatever goals or aspirations they may have in order to please their parents, even long after they leave home and/or get married.
Firpo Carr is one of the newest self appointed Watchtower apologists. He has evidently so far survived the Watchtower's attempt to control religious publication by members. His recent self-published book on blacks and the Watchtower titled, A History of the Watchtower From a Black American Perspective tries to whitewash their embarrassing history of racism.
One of the key roles of parents in any society is to shape the thinking and aspirations of their children for the future. Parents who are Jehovah's Witnesses are admonished to be especially keen on guiding their children away from any unnecessary involvement in the "world" in order to devote more time to the work of spreading Watchtower doctrine. Ever since the beginning of the Watchtower in 1879, its readers have been told that the "end of the world" is right around the corner
I have researched the Watchtower Society's (hereby designated as WTS) view of this "rape" issue as far back as I have the resources to do so. I have their 1935-1980 "comprehensive" index, and the earliest listing is in 1964. Since my personal library only goes back to 1969, my husband went to the Kingdom Hall and made copies for me of the 1964 and 1968 articles. (Funny how making copies of the Society's old literature is always suspect, isn't it!)
I suspect the WTS has printed articles prior to 1964 on "rape" and is up to their old tricks of leaving selected articles out of their "comprehensive" new indexes. I have caught them doing this on other topics, but I have no way to check it.
At the age of five, I came home from school one day to be told that God's name is Jehovah, Christmas and birthdays are wrong and we can't salute the flag any more. I accepted this and never saluted the flag again. The year was 1960.
My first introduction to the Watchtower Organization was in 1970, when my mother began to study with an old friend of hers who had become a Jehovah's Witness. I was in the 8th grade at the time. Soon my mother began dragging us all to the Kingdom Hall and had stopped going to our church. We had been raised in the Roman Catholic Church up until then. After going to several assemblies and through heavy indoctrination, I decided the Watchtower was the truth; I was baptized in 1972.
Untold thousands of individuals have suffered from emotional and psychological pain inflicted by Jehovah’s Witnesses due to the breakup of families. Most people are only familiar with Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) to the extent of being awakened on a weekend by zealous proselytizing recruits. But there is a great deal more to know; the Watchtower is a twentieth-century American religious movement that has adversely affected families worldwide, eroding family cohesiveness and unity once a family member starts the indoctrination phase of the recruitment process.
New York Post 12/31/2003 Michael Jackson's Contact with the Nation of Islam - Michael Jackson is sick of his aggressive Nation of Islam bodyguards and wants to fire them, sources told The Post yesterday. Jackson's relatives and business associates are shopping around for other security outfits, a source said.
When Jehovah's Witnesses go to court in a child custody case, they and their lawyers now turn for help to a new booklet of more than 60 pages, provided by the Watchtower Society.
Titled Direct and Cross-Examination Questions in Child Custody Cases, the booklet prepares JW parents by listing dozens of "cross-examination questions that Witness parents could face" and even offers suggested responses under the heading, "Sample approach by Witness Parent to Cross-Examination."
For example, "Do you believe all Catholics (or other) will be destroyed?" Answer: "Jehovah makes those judgments, not we."
The following stories have all been voluntarily contributed to the Freeminds website over the years. Each is shown as written with no editorial input other than spelling corrections.
Comments: I was born October 21,1969 and raised a JW. I was kind of lucky as a real young child because before the 80's came along in my congregation we had this reform-minded JW for a main elder. We shall call him brother Homes. Brother Homes did a lot of unorthodox things from a non-reformed JW point of view. He would actually design special parts of the meetings for kids, having them come up on the stage and show their drawings and then he would have them sing songs he also through Bible character themed dress-up parties out of his own pocket.
Would the slave trade have been outlawed before 1880 if it had not been for what is known as the Haitian Revolution? Would the escaped slave Frederick Douglass, eventually assumed of his generation the most highly regarded of the Black male abolitionists, have been in the world wide publishing work before 1846 for what he felt was God’s Kingdom to Come on earth if there were no Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society?
What emotions does a person feel who just realizes that she has been involved in a religious cult for a number of years? For some they may be a sense of exhilaration at leaving, but there are also feelings of anger, confusion and embarrassment to deal with. The anger is usually directed at the cult, one's recruiter, and/or oneself for allowing this to have happened and take up so many years of one's life. Confusion comes as a result of not knowing who to trust anymore with the facts. Finally, there is embarrassment. You not only feel stupid for being a sucker to a religious scam, you have to teach your kids what a cult is, and then proceed to demonstrate that you have all been a part of one for the last few years. Gee, mommy, didn't you know???
I was watching TV last night and caught part of a ninety-minute interview with the Artist. Larry Graham (sp) and Chaka Kahn (sp) were interviewed too. The Artist kept saying the reason he was doing the interview was to say that it was time that people "unite" for something, and that something could be "freedom." he said, when praised by a very emotional fan, that he was nothing and the important thing is that "Jesus has returned."
My name is Lillian Cruz and this is my story. I was the one at first searching for truth from the bible. Therefore I felt and still feel responsible today for some of the things that happened to my family and me. I wont go into all the details of how we met the Witnesses except to say I called them. Over a period of 25 years, I bounced from Church to Church looking for somewhere to belong. Looking for the "true" religion. I realized that I had spoken to representatives of almost every Christian religion except the Jehovah's Witnesses. Therefore in the winter of 1993, I decided to call the local kingdom hall and have someone come to my home. Immediately they offered a bible study for me and my husband expressed interest also so we agreed. We started the next week. Now we did not realize at the time what we were getting into as no one really does. The indoctrination into their interpretation of the bible began early on.
Thirty-one years ago on March 14, 1970, I was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Along with 55 others at a circuit assembly in Lafayette, Indiana, I answered yes to the following questions:
Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
Where do I start? I was baptized in 1970 at a convention in Newton Mass. My husband at the time, was a Catholic and not at all interested in the JWs. It was my step-sister and her husband who studied with me.
I had my first child who was not even a year old yet. I took her to the meetings with me and to conventions.
My story is pretty much the same as most, I grew up in a family with problems, my dad drank and was abusive, mom was a schoolteacher. By the time I was 18, I had experimented with drugs, sex and other things and was in a big rush to get out of my parents home, so after the end of a year long relationship with a man 7 years older than myself, I rebounded into another with a man just like dear old dad.
At the age of five, my mind was fresh, my parent's taught me the Religious mess. They sat me down in hard back chairs, in Kingdom Halls full of stares. They told me GOD put men in power, mediating for us in an Ivory tower. Illuminated from the top, I don't think I like that thought! giving my mind, soul and body. belonging to them - that was my folly.
January 30, 2006Renee xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxxx
Dear Mr. xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
Re: Disassociation Letter
It has taken me a long time to write this letter because I could not decide what to say. I thought about discussing every point were I do not agree with Jehovah's Witnesses. I thought about pointing out how the past false prophesies of the religion has made it obvious it is not governed by God's holy spirit. (Deut. 18: 20-22) This letter also might have been about my objections to a group of men I have never met, nor know their names deciding my beliefs and my inability to have any thoughts based on my personal study and relationship with God. But instead, I decided to relate to you my own spiritual journey and to show you that my motives are pure, and how I have developed an ever closer relationship with Jehovah.
Do Jehovah's Witnesses abuse their children? Does The Watchtower actually promote the mental and emotional abuse of children? Most people would find this contemptible. Let's take a look at how Jehovah's Witnesses typically raise their children.
Sometime, between now and 1984, Gabriel's trumpet will blow reveille for Judgment Day. That's the firm belief of some three million of your world neighbors, Jehovah's Witnesses, the amazing sect whose members refuse to vote, do jury duty, salute the flag.
I stumbled upon your website, Stories From the Watchtower World, a few years ago. I wished to write and inform you that the content has helped me a great deal in coming to terms with the loss of a faith that constituted my entire frame of mind. Technically I left the organization when I was 14 but I didn’t truly take back my heart and mind until around 20-21 years of age. I’m 23 now. Another reason I decided to write this letter is that I feel a need to tell my own story in the hopes that it might help somebody else come to terms in the same way the stories of others helped me.
Written by Jessica Day, December 6, 2005
When I was born my father was barely out of his teens and my mother was mentally ill so I was given to my grandparents to be raised. I lived with them from an infant until the age of nine, they were the only family I ever new. My dad was somebody who visited once a month. When I was six my dad moved near to us and I began to see him a little more, not enough however to prepare me for what was to come when I turned nine. He was a Jehovah’s Witness, he was therefore not allowed to be with a woman without being married. When his girlfriend broke up with him because she refused to become a JW for him he was very lonely. He married the first JW Woman who came along after that.
A range of participation is represented by these individuals, from full activity to disaffiliation.
One of the more difficult issues facing a divided household where one of the marriage partners is a Jehovah's Witness is the subject of divorce. Child custody issues often follow. Even the Watchtower Society acknowledges the increase in court appearances on family issues involving a non-Witness mate. The Awake! of 9/22/92, p. 11 says,
Much of the world was saddened last week by the death of Michael Jackson, famous pop star known and loved by millions. It will be helpful to many to read a quick review of comments and anecdotes about Michael's religious beliefs and his upbringing in the Jehovah's Witness sect, and how it influenced his life and his dreams, and perhaps even his ultimate demise.
Birthdays, are they allowed to be celebrated now?
Discussion of the many fears that the Watchtower ingrains in the Jehovah's Witness, and the talk is mostly audience participation. Meet many ex-JWs and listen to how they overcame their fears. Good for those anticipating leaving the Watchtower or those whose families are still in it. Parts one and two, about 40 minutes each. Though filmed in 1990, all the issues are exactly the same in 2009.
.jpg)
Michael Jackson the former Jehovah's Witnesses has died of cardiac arrest it has been reported in Los Angeles today, Thursday 25th June. The reclusive star was reported to have had issues with prescription drugs during the buildup to a 50 date London tour. Firefighters arrived to a 911 call to his Bel Air home after he had collapsed and took him to UCLA Medical Center.
I feel the need to express how I feel and felt about my life as a gay man. I was brought up from birth as a Jehovah’s Witness. This has played a major part in my life and it has been a real struggle to get past.
Firpo Carr is one of the newest self appointed Watchtower apologists. He has evidently so far survived the Watchtower's attempt to control religious publication by members. His recent self-published book on blacks and the Watchtower titled, 
My first introduction to the Watchtower Organization was in 1970, when my mother began to study with an old friend of hers who had become a Jehovah's Witness. I was in the 8th grade at the time. Soon my mother began dragging us all to the Kingdom Hall and had stopped going to our church. We had been raised in the Roman Catholic Church up until then. After going to several assemblies and through heavy indoctrination, I decided the Watchtower was the truth; I was baptized in 1972.
