Taken from a letter from The Governing Body to all congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, dated 26th December 2010.

In an effort to increase the praise and honor to Jehovah and Jesus Christ at the time of the Memorial, the Governing Body has arranged for a special period of increased activity during April 2011. (km 2/11 p. 1) Perhaps you have taken the opportunity to auxiliary pioneer in the past during the Memorial season. Or maybe you have long had the desire to share as an auxiliary pioneer, but your situation prevented you from fulfilling this goal.

You will be pleased to learn that during April 2011, publishers who wish to serve as auxiliary pioneers may indicate on the application whether they will be working toward a 30-hour or 50-hour requirement for the month. This is a special arrangement for the month of April 2011 only. Additionally, if the circuit overseer is visiting your congregation in April, all who are serving as auxiliary pioneers, whether with a 30-hour or a 50-hour requirement, are invited to attend the entire meeting the circuit overseer has with the regular pioneers.

Yes, in order to praise and honour God, do more.

The Governing Body no longer publishes a list of  locations for District Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nor do they publicly publish the criteria Jehovah’s Witnesses have to obey pertaining to these conventions. Only the elders have this information.

And this information is only to be disseminated by the elders.

The information does contain a sizeable list of dos and don’t that the Witnesses must obey when it comes to arranging accomodation for the convention. The Governing Body do not want this information to be printed and distributed to the Witnesses. ]

Only the elders are to have it.

However, here’s the list of dos and don’ts for those who like to know what high control religious groups are up to:

Please adhere to the following instructions as you make your hotel
reservations:

• Stay only in the hotels on the Recommended Lodging List. If rooms are already booked, call
another hotel on the list.

• Do not call hotels that are not on the list to ask if they have a rate for our conventions. [note: how much of a kick-back does the Watch Tower Society get from local hotels?]

• Accept only the rate shown on the list. Obtain a confirmation number, and make your deposit
within ten days by debit/credit card, check, or money order.

• Each room should be reserved in the name of the person who will actually occupy it. Do not
reserve extra rooms. Keep your first reservation.

• If you must cancel a reservation, do so as early as possible. Be sure to get a cancellation number.

• Fire regulations require that you not exceed the number of persons that the hotel allows for
each room.

• If there are no rooms available after calling ALL the hotels listed, or if you have a problem
with a hotel, inform your congregation secretary. He should communicate with the convention
Rooming Department, using the contact information on the Recommended Lodging List. [note: so if you can't get accomodation from the list of hotels supplied by "The Society" you still aren't allowed to make your own arrangements. Rather, you've to contact the congregation secretary. Why?]

• Please also note that if you use a debit or credit card when registering at a hotel, it is standard
practice for them to place a hold on enough funds in your account to cover your total room
cost, plus any possible damages or incidentals during your stay. You will not be able to use
any of those funds until your account is settled within a few days after you depart.

“Jehovah continues to “remember his covenant” and the blessings promised through it. Today, he is providing an abundant supply of spiritual food in over 400 languages.” Watchtower March 15 2009 Page 22

The Governing Body makes a big deal over the fact that the Bible Students (as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known), led by “Judge” Rutherford, began a preaching campaign in 1919 based around the slogan “Advertise, Advertise, Advertise, the King and His Kingdom”.

This campaign is held up as proof that Jesus had selected this band of merry Students in 1919 (there you go, Watchtower apologists; that’s the proof you’ve failed to offer*):

In 1919, Jehovah used his power to deliver a small remnant of these anointed ones from captivity to false religion. Their accomplishments during this time of the end can only be attributed to God’s power. Watchtower March 15 2009 Page 23

Giving us some background information on this time, AH Macmillan in his book “Faith on the March” (which documents his “finding the truth” through CT Russell (such “truths” have since been rejected wholesale by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, so the man actually believed, taught and preached “falsehoods”)).

Here he quotes “Ju[uuu]dge” Rutherford[z]‘s “stirring” talk following his release from prison (part of the alluded to “deliverance” mentioned in the above quoted Watchtower):

“For six thousand years God has been preparing for this kingdom. For nineteen hundred years he has been gathering out the kingdom class from amongst men.

Since 1874 the King of glory has been present; and during that time he has conducted a harvest and has gathered unto himself the temple class.

Since 1914 the King of glory has taken his power and reigns. He has cleansed the lips of the temple class and sends them forth with the message. The importance of the message of the kingdom cannot be overstated.

It is the message of all messages. It is the message of the hour. It is incumbent upon those who are the Lord’s to declare it.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand; the King reigns; Satan’s empire is falling; millions now living will never die….
The world must know that Jehovah is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days.
Behold, the King reigns! You are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom! “

Macmillan continues:

Suddenly, as these words filled the auditorium, a platform length banner was unfurled that echoed the stirring phrase: “Advertise the King and Kingdom.” A mighty shout went up from the assembly.

Stirring times indeed, and all part of the body of evidence used by the Governing Body somehow prove that they speak for God on earth.

However, how much, if any, truth is found in Rutherford’s bold proclamations in 1919?

Well, for starters he claimed that Jesus had returned in 1874.

That was “current truth” among the Bible Students (as Jehovahs’ Witnesses were then known), a “truth” that was actually false.

Remember, it was this truth that caused CT Russell to sell his business and embark on a nationwide preaching tour, declaring that Christ had invisibly returned in 1874.

Remember, the Bible Students believed they were the body of Christ’s brothers who’d opened to the door to the Lord in 1874, meaning that when he actually did return, according to current Governing Body doctrine, in 1914, the Bible Students wouldn’t have opened the door to the bridegroom; they’d welcomed him 40 years earlier…

This would have, of course, completely disqualified them from being chosen as the “faithful and discreet slave” “class” by Jesus 4 or 5 years later.

Isn’t it par for the course that the Governing Body relies on an event in 1919 that was completely based on a false teaching to prove that they now, 91 years later, speak for Jehovah God?

Do they assume that Jehovah’s Witnesses are too blind or gullible to realise that this “Advertise, Advertise, Advertise…” talk was a pile of nonsense based upon doctrines that have been wholesale abandoned by the “faithful and discreet slave” “class”, other than the noble idea of proclaiming Christ as Lord and King?

Look again at the quotation from Rutherford’s talk; “millions now living will never die“? Really? Did that pan out? It’s interesting that the Governing Body now refers to the talk and pamphlet based on the above quoted discourse by Rutherford as “Millions Now Living May Never Die”.

Perhaps Jehovah’s Witnesses should spend time studying the history of the organisation they obediently and unquestioningly follow. Perhaps they’ll see that Jesus Christ alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life, not 8 guys in an America board room, no matter what claims they make about their past.

* that wasn’t hard, was it?

…you’re completely wrong about when he’d returned?

Click to enlarge

We (Christians, that is) are to witness of Jesus, for Jesus, about Jesus. We witness about Jesus and he’ll take care of the rest.

• Jesus didn’t say “you are to be my witnesses until, oh, roughly the first quarter of the 20th Century. Then I need to you seek out a dude called Joe. He’ll be a “judge”…well, he’ll say he’s a judge. But the point is, I’ll have chosen him and his pals to speak for God on earth. So once you’ve found him, whatever he says, ok?”
• Jesus didn’t say “you are to be my witnesses, but only when you’re not knocking doors witnessing for a multi-billion dollar publishing corporation led by a few old white men (and a token brother) in Brooklyn. Those guys represent. I need you to do the same. So, whatever they say, ok?”
• Jesus didn’t say “you are to be my witnesses, but actually I need you to make some theological leaps using a book you don’t have yet. But don’t worry about that, a failed haberdasher will decide he knows best, so whatever he says, ok? Oh, and get your white nightgown ready for 1874-ish. Just saying.”
• Jesus didn’t say “you are to be my witnesses, but only until the New World Translation’s been published and then I need to you to make a lot of dodgy assumptions, ignore the fact that there’s stuff in it 237 that I didn’t put there, disregard what I’ve just told you, and place your faith in some guys who’ll make big claims about themselves without any evidence. Whatever they say, ok?”

I would say, Matthew, that  denouncing (renouncing) your

faith is…the way (your wife)’s done, um, is (there is a lengthy pause)…it’s not only on a par,

I think it’s more serious than something like adultery or fornication

I would say, Matthew, that  denouncing (renouncing) your faith is…the way (your wife)’s done, um, is (there is a lengthy pause)…it’s not only on a par, I think it’s more serious than something like adultery or fornication. [source: page 4] emphasis added

This podcast was recorded on Christmas Day, 2008. After our last visit from two local elders, my wife felt that she could not longer be known as a Jehovah’s Witness and chose to disassociate herself in November, 2008. We had been on a family holiday and had returned to find that one of the local elders who had visited us had warned off my mother-in-law from having anything to do with my wife – her daughter. He also made false statements about one of my children. So I decided to confront this elder (Matthew 18:15) at the kingdom hall.

Listen to the audio recording:

Download the audio.
Download a copy of the transcript below.
The Martyring of Matthew Barrie Part One: Podcast 8: Showdown at the Kingdom Hall

However, based on the Judge’s comments above when sentencing Burns, it would seem the fabled Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses decree that there must be two witnesses to “sins”, including that of sexually abusing young children before the congregation will take action were in some way to blame for the man evading justice for over quarter of a century. But wait…

In other areas the implication was potentially life threatening. 

For example, organ transplants were cannibalism from 1967 to 1979. You have to wonder on whose hands is the blood of any Jehovah's Witness who died from refusing an organ transplant during those years.

And what about the worship of Jesus? 

The Governing Body admits that the Bible proves that Jesus is to be worshipped. Perhaps due to this Biblical truth Jehovah's Witnesses believed and taught such from 1897 to 1953, during which time the Governing Body says they became the "faithful and discreet slave" "class", i.e. 1919.