Join this channel to get access to perks: / @vevianvoz Recently out of the Jehovah’s Witness organization, ex pioneer shares her story. Meet Lani Retreat she mentioned: www.themanamovement.org/mana-...
I wrote 2 or 3 letters about a year apart and they never reinstated me. I was an over the road driver so I couldn't make every meeting but I made most and I still wasn't let back in. I gave up. I couldn't understand why this was happening when I knew how much I loved Jehovah. But once I learned loving God didn't require the organization then I felt better
What a delightful young lady, in every way. All she wanted was to 'get right with Jehovah', but those heartless, soulless robotic elders just wanted to judge, condemn and punish. No wonder she had a meltdown. Smh
Dawn, best wishes to you. I hope you find peace in your life. The best revenge for what the Borg has taken from you is the success you have in life being away from their ideology.
These stories just prove the incompetence and power hungry secretly angry old men that run this org. The old JW in me says “they are blood guilty” they took a person sincerely looking for help and being openly human and honest and CRUSHED you. There so many expletives I want to use! Thank you for sharing. 🌺
Congratulations for waking up, especially while you're still young. Life is 100% better without the mind control of the Borg. Best wishes to you and thank you for sharing your story.
Love and positivity to Lani. One of the most difficult things to overcome when leaving the JW organization is the deep programming they embed into the members. It took me ten years to overcome the constant thoughts that I'd die at Armageddon, the guilt can be overwhelming. Before you're baptised it's all nice and love bombing. After you get baptized you really see the negativity up close. Judicial committees give elders a chance to stroke their own and eachothers egos. When someone is announced they're not a JW anymore their egos fly high and they think they've done a good job. I am convinced that Christianity is a conduit to negativity. Jesus did not come here to start a religion, he came here to show us how to live in 4th density. He came here to show us how to employ LOVE while we are in human form. Negative people made a fear based, manipulative, guilt inducing religion of out Jesus' teachings. Thank you Lani for sharing your story with us.
Thank you Lani for sharing your powerful story! I am so proud of you my sister. We met back in 2017 when I was a Bethelite and she was a Pioneer and I was so impressed by how beautiful she was inside out and how spiritual she was. That hasn't changed and despite all she has been through, she is better, not bitter. The universe has wonderful things in store for this lovely young lady.
I would have never shunned a disfellowshipped person. I used to always find an excuse to walk past them and smile and touch their arm. I just couldn’t shun people and I was a jw for 50 years. I’ve never agreed with shunning or disfellowshipping but I always agreed with accepting disassociation if that’s what the person wanted. Jesus never shunned anybody. You are a beautiful person and it’s their loss xxx
One of the best interviews I've seen. Lani said things I totally relate to in ways I never had the words to say. Thank you Lani and I hope only the best for you!!!
That was me over 20 years ago. Married elder pursued me, a single sister form years and gave in just once. Was DF and he was privately reproof. He then went on to help me to appeal by coaching me on what to say. The DF was then changed to public reproof. Took me over 15 years to wake up eventually and I was finally DF for apostasy.
It really hit me when you mentioned "I can't be inside but I don't want to be part of the world". I got to that point. Thank you for sharing your story.
The lack of compassion & understanding shown towards this sister was nothing like the Jehovah & Jesus were were all taught about as witnesses were shown this dear girl. It's heartbreaking and eye opening about the religion we all were raised to believe was "The Truth". Congratulations on your flight and continued success on your journey of self love and acceptance! 🌻
I felt the same way in the organization. I felt worthless and useless to Jehovah because of the mistakes I would make. My confidence was always low. Glad this woman made it out :).
Lani you can tell from this interview you are speaking from your heart. This is the sad reality of this organization to judge and not seeing people as individuals but put all into a box with their set of rules that are completely unjust. Live your life no one else can decide your life decisions but you. May you prosper in your new journey in your life❤!!!
The world is a better place with you! Congratulations on your escape from this cult and maintaining your peace of mind. The both of you are as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. After serving in this despicable religion for 50+ years, I sat on many judicial committees where sisters are treated quite differently from the brothers. This is not the one and only true religion if you study the history and false teachings of this pagan religion. I’m an apostate now and proud of it! We are more of an honorable peoples than the ones who are in the JW cult.
Yeah my 16 year old daughter went to the elders for guidance and they just disfellowshipped her. It’s never any help just judgement and punishment. It’s why they are not growing. She married out of the religion and is positively happy.
This was a fantastic video! Thank you so much for sharing your story and being so vulnerable. You seem so incredibly grounded and self confident! How beautiful!
Thanks Vivian for another interview with another one who has gone through the process of being humiliated and abused by those that call themselves leaders and shepherds of the flock . But reality are not her more than cult prison guards flexing their power over others with little desire in giving loving guidance to those who need it most , the younger ones who go through the urges that biologically they were created with , and at times are so hard to suppress. Love not rejection has been proven to work better . God bless you all .
Good interview....reminds me of all the brothers I knew in Australia..... even moved there from California and gave a couple of talks in the local congregations in NSW...now I am very comfortable and enjoying my journey in life.....good luck to you Lani and enjoy your journey 😊
I absolutely loved loved this interview!!! Every young woman should watch this video, even if they weren't a JW. Lani was just not only in an abusive religion but also in an abusive relationship. Please share this video with every young woman out there. This should of been a P.B.S. after school special...for REAL.
WOW,WOW and WOW.That was my experience all over!! I still struggle with disappointing Jehovah😢 I'm an Ozzy too and reside in QLD.Thankyou for sharing your experience and basically mine too.❤
The Jehovah God is the God of war , please research the history of the JWs , watchtower society ,Billy Carson and Jordan Maxwell you'll have an entire different view of the God of the bible 😢 and theology and religion in general .That what it took for me to overcome all the indoctrination of the cult
Lani thank you for your very Frank and difficult journey as a “Witness”. I’ve been out of the organisation for over 20 years and it was only the in the past 2 years I have truly healed after nearly 50 years as a JW. Thank you for sharing your story. I too live in Australia! Blessings as you go forward ❤️
Really enjoyed this video. Lani is smart and in spite of her indoctrination, was able to see the inherent flaws in this religion, ie no real love or compassion if one makes a mistake. JC mtgs with elders is like being before the Gestapo, they've already made up their minds as to someone's fate. I liked her stating that it's like this org is designed to keep you small and unable to grow as a person, and this really nails it. So glad she made her way out of it to experience real happiness.
Great video….I always say once the FOG (fear, obligation & guilt) wears off you’re free… make plans for your life because there’s soooo much more in this world than meetings 4-5 days a week, Saturday & Sunday preaching work… when I left over 10 yrs ago it was hard making plans on Saturday morning but let me tell you, when I realized that I Can Do Whatever I Wanted To DO, that was it…lol!!!! I never looked back…❤
Hi Lani , I'm a fellow Queenslander ..up in Townsville. Glad your out and free. Yes I adopt that same thought . I think it's important to question society and stay curious and open minded . X
Thanks Lani . Thanks Vevian. Ive been out 19 years, but sadly my son and his wife and family are still under the influence of this mind controlling, guilt shaming cult. Power to you both and all the other escapees. I too miss some of the happy times, but now I know whats behind the curtain, I will never go back.
So glad you are out and have your freedom! You remind me of my daughters, ex Bethelite & pioneers who woke up after me, they now travel the world, back packing, surfing and the have lots of new friends! Life gets better the further we are away from this destructive cult!! 🏄♀️🌞💖😎
If anyone is trying to get reinstated and you’re struggling with whether or not God actually tells elders whether or not someone is sincere, read my story. I was DF’d at age 18, and I spent a year trying to get back in. When writing my first letter, I was sincere. They “prayed about it” and “Jehovah told them that I wasn’t being sincere”. I knew that I wasn’t lying, so I went home wondering how God could’ve possibly gotten it wrong. It didn’t take me long to realize that this org was a complete joke. I waited until it was time to try again. I wanted back in because my cousin was getting married and I wanted to go to the wedding. By that point, I was COMPLETELY done (I had already become an atheist), and I wrote the most ridiculous letter. I was actually laughing when I wrote it because I knew it would work. Well, what to you know? They prayed about my INSINCERE letter, written with giggles and eyerolls, and the Creator of the Universe told them that I was sincere this time 😂 For the record, I was an atheist for 13 years, but not anymore.
Thank you, this was exactly the message I needed! I have never been baptized, (thank God! 😂) so I didn't have to endure this shunning procedure. However, I was raised in the cult, and sadly the attitude had a huge impact on me. I'm out since 5 years, I work with a therapist, and I have other issues as well, and the main problem is that I can be really hard on myself. It's hard to let myself make mistakes and not being led by guilt all the time. Because guilt is what this cult relies on, and it's like in my veins now. I'm so glad that you were able to set yourself free from emotional chains. This story was really inspiring.
Excellent video. Well done getting out, it takes time to trust your own decisions and you hit the nail on the head when you said we come back to our own personality. We were constantly told to “put on the new personality” when the one we had was just fine! Finding who you really are, what you love, what you want out of life is so important. Take care, we’re in Oz too and we’ve been out about 4 years now, thousands and thousands are waking up 🤗
I use to be a counselor in a women's prison, and I learned that some people need people to control them until they develop the ability to control themselves. Some people in controlling groups, until they trust and know themselves enough to take control, need to be there. They will come out when they are ready to take control
Lani I am so grateful for your views. ❤ "We are love" is a beautiful concept. Also as a fellow Aussie thank you because you're the1st ex JW voice that I've ever watched as an interview. Nice for a change to hear a voice that sounds like my own!😆 My heartfelt respect to you for sharing.I disassociated 14years ago (2009) but was only allowed an opportunity to commence my deprogramming on my own volition since 2018. So your interview has infact empowered me in more ways than you'll ever know. Much love to you and thank you for giving me hope. ❤💐 Thank you immensely Vevian ❤🎉
This story made me think about how we all have different positives and negatives on our journey. It seemed like being a JW brought her a lot of happiness in some ways and I'm sure that made it all the more confusing.
I did same thing...I allowed others power over me as a young adult ! I regret that especially since a Brother told me don't give them power over me ! But i trusted these men would judge my Heart but they didn't care God bkess you ❤
Thanks for sharing you story Lani. Fellow Aussie here. I felt like that too, being able to see and interact with people without judgement and without thinking they would be killed by god at Armaggedon, it's so freeing. Glad you got out, there's no love from the org. I was always taught God was not so unrighteous as to forget your hard work. Apparently he is according to the JW judicial process.
Vevian, thank you for NOT stepping on Lani's words or finishing her sentances. You let HER speak. Great job. Lani, like learning to play an instrument, pick yourself up, learn notes, chords, and progressions, and play the world a beautiful song called Lani's Life. Enjoy your travels.
I was raised in it as well from the time I was five years old until I was 27 my story is this I fell in love with a beautiful woman her father was a precidingi overseer elder anyway I met her December 1988 we were married February 3rd 1990 we ended up having born in 1992 and 1994 by 1996 we were divorced this is where everything goes wrong in 1995 she started cheating on me with someone she met from work but let me tell you how messed up the organization is I started drinking to cover my pain so I thought I love this woman anyway I got pulled into the judicial committee and was disfellowshipped so that my mother my father my sister's my brother-in-law's my friends and I've known my whole life could no longer speak to me or have anything to do with and I'm hard-headed I'll be the first to admit it I did tell the elders in the judicial committee to give me some time and I would be okay but now I got the boot. The worldly man that she was cheating on me with she ended up marrying him after the divorce was final and to make matters worse my children were kept for me for many years they were brainwashed by her and him that I was a piece of crap my oldest daughter will be 31 in May 2023 my second daughter stil to this day will not speak to me to show you how I would figure things has been for me and why I will never go back to being a witness my wife cheated on me and was never disfellowshipped so 30 years she's been able to speak to her mother father sister brother but ask for me my mother never talks to me my sister's my brother-in-law my niece's I'm nothing to them I'm like the song the black sheep of the family my mother is 82 years old and who knows how long she has left her health is bad but it looks to me as though the only way I'll get to speak to her when she's in the grave but it's not fair that I took all the brunt and still this day 30 years later still taking of my ex-wives decision had her problem I did not cheat she did and yet I'm the one that's paying I'm the one that's in pain for all these years and I've asked Jehovah why what did I do to deserve this. she did the crime and she got away completely free I lost all of my family and one of my daughters
I know. You can murder someone or rape a child and that’s ok with the organization as long as you make all the meetings, go out in service, answer the questions for the watchtower magazine and say how you much you love and trust the governing body. They think that’s being spiritual. It’s crazy!
Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing your truth. You are so relatable, and this video is going to resonate with a lot of people. People like you give me hope for the future👍
I don’t get how people say they don’t “judge” anyone anymore. Really? So you’d associate with someone, let’s just say, that defrauded your friends of their life savings? Or some one that molested your child? Does right and wrong cease to exist just because we woke up to certain aspects of a religious cult that are definitely toxic?
Gday Vevian and Lani another moving interview that made me sad having seen what this barbaric treatment does to people. The positive is as with my son and wife you were able to find a new path. I also wanted to offer if you are interested Lani I have a contact that is a psychologist that is an ex witness that if you needed to have a chat with someone.
I can relate, we love Jehovah. We so long for his rich blessings in our lives. But if we falter we have to deal with imperfect men who act as Jury, judge, Executioner. When only god can read the hearts. So unfortunate. They are losing so many good people
I appealed and my meeting went like this “ did you do it” I said yes and they said to leave the room. I was out for 10 minutes and they invited me back in and said they were upholding the elders decision
This was really hard to watch, and my heart goes out to this poor woman. I am recently out myself and I’m feeling so lost and confused. Thank you for this video testimony. I really needed it.
Congratulations as well, Lulu. It's not an easy thing to do but I found that the friends I have made in the world are 100% better than the ones you have left behind. That's not to say you won't miss them, but everyone has their own journey.
@@kipmic1 I never made any real friends in my cong only because I had a child then we caught up for our kids to play. It’s all superficial friendships so now I’m going to find some new friends. I’m a introvert so it will be a challenge but I will find some.
@@Lulu-oi9ue I’m sure you will, and I’m excited for you. The secret is to let people in. I’ve been out for over twenty years and I make it a point to get to know people (mostly because I’m noisy), and I have made some great friends along the way. And these friends don’t care if you smoked a cigarette or saw an R-rated movie, LOL. R rating is a mature rating here in the states BTW.
@@kipmic1 I’ve come to realise that the organisation has made me completely introverted. I couldn’t be my authentic self because we can’t make worldly friends or be truely you in front of anyone in the organisation. So of course I don’t have any real friends. Now I will have to reprogram my thoughts and make new friends. There’s already a couple women I’m keen to get to know more.
@@Lulu-oi9ue that’s great, I’m sure your experiences will be of great value to the community going forward. I feel blessed that I woke up fairly young and I was still able to salvage a career, where as my family is still in an struggling under the mind control. I know it sounds harsh but the more you realize how insidious that level of control really is, the more upsetting it is. People who leave the Borg, suffer from religious trauma for years. Even though I left many years ago and have had a great life, I still think about my past. These stories on YT are very cathartic, because I love to hear people’s experiences of waking up. Sooo… what was it for you 🤓
I became an alcoholic... I've been sober for 6years now, however it still hurts but I appreciate your comment where I do deserve to be loved and that I am a good person. Thank you for sharing your story
This cult does an excellent job at destroying the emotions of their followers, so much so that when you even decide to leave the cult, many turn from Jesus completely, because that cult indoctrinated their people so deeply, that it really takes a complete emptying in order to know that God has already made a way for you to be accepted. The hardest thing, in my opinion, is for ex-witnesses to admit they need a savior, because we CAN"T do it ourselves. The ONLY way to find God's favor is thru His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus did ALL the work, and freed us from the law of sin and death. The "work" we do AFTER we are saved isn't earning anything; the work is a RESULT of being saved. The best part is, you don't have to follow an organization's pre-conceived ideas and schedule. You are FREE in Christ. You "witness" because you LOVE Jesus, not because you're being forced to go out on service. If you are in ANY organization that tells you that you HAVE to come to THEM for salvation....RUN, and RUN fast, right out of there. Jesus said, "Come unto ME, and I will give you rest." The JW org has literally brain-washed it's followers to believe those 8, no 10, wait, now 9 knuckleheads in New York as their overlords. What BS. So sad. Glad you left the cult. I will be praying for you, because you give hope for my wife and daughter. I was never a JW, but my wife was a born-in. She won't even talk to me about anything spiritual, because she gets so upset when I ask questions about her loyalty to an org, rather than Jesus Himself. I pray the Holy Spirit crack that nut, and her eyes are opened to the REAL Truth; Jesus Christ and Him crucified for our sins, raised for our justification, and now sits at the right hand of God as OUR Mediator. One day, I will be with HIM, where ever He is. That's what He said to all of us. "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:2-6. Jesus wasn't talking to a select few. He was talking to you and me also. This is for EVERYONE who puts their trust in HIM. and Him alone. Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I'm approaching middle age and am sure I still carry stuff from growing up JW. I'm so glad my curiosity for science, and specifically how sunlight interacts with our Earth, was greater than exhaustingly proving the existence of a negative.
You are right about coming back to who you are. Just as a child, you should explore and question the world and your beliefs without being constrained by those who want to control you.
JW: How to take a vibrant, emotionally stable, intuitive and well spoken woman and mentally break her down. It broke my heart a little too listen to you, Lani... I can tell even now it affects you. Know there are good people outside the corporation, and men who aren't emotionally abusive, either. Instead of retreats, it was reading the Bible made me an atheist, ive lost all my Christian faith at all. Wish you the very best on your journey, fellow human.
Sorry you had to go through the spiritual abuse . I can hear your very genuine and sincere love for God . Don't throw the 'baby' out with the 'bathwater' or allow WT to destroy your faith . Nothing we do or don't do can make Jehovah love us any more or less than he already does . WT forgets that we are saved by grace. We cannot work for or earn God's love . He gives it freely .
If you were a popular elders daughter or from a JW Dynasty family you would have been pardoned. I learned the hard way too. Enjoy your new authentic life.
As a christian and evangelist, I have been trying and 2 warn people about the Jehovah. Witnesses for years keeping people away from the precious Lord Jesus. The only one who can save a soul By his sacrifice on the cross and the shedding of his blood, They have done so much damage and kept people from living their lives in hearing the real gospel of Jesus Christ. It makes me sick to hear these Comments Of people who have finally woken app and left that ungodly good-for-nothing organization. There's nothing good about it. I think about all the precious people who've committed suicide. Because they're a wicked practices. Grieves My heart. Jesus said accept a man be born again. He cannot see the kingdom of heaven
