Caller: "I wish I could go back to believing"

[@PowerMetalAlien]

That was me! Thank you so much, Lloyd. Maybe I am blaming myself a little bit too much. I feel a terrible guilt I know I shouldn't, but therapy's been awesome.

[@LloydEvans]

Thanks for calling! Stay strong mate and know you're never alone. 💪

[@kacklina]

I hope you are on a better point now.

[@franciskhoury4288]

I'm happy to hear that therapy has been good! Not all therapists are good. A good one is worth a lot!

[@isaiah30v8]

This is what helped me go back to believing: . Read carefully: . Now I tell Jehovah's Witnesses to go through the narrow gate that is on the cramped road leading to life. . Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road ** LEADING OFF INTO LIFE ** and few are the ones finding it. . I ask them to read what Jehovah said would happen at the time of the end that is in every Christians bible and yet, few are the ones finding it: . Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of Jehovah, YOU men who are trembling at his word: “YOUR brothers that are hating YOU, that are excluding YOU by reason of my name, said, ‘May Jehovah be glorified!’ He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part, and they are the ones that will be put to shame.” . [Name of person] is no longer one of JEHOVAH's Witnesses ---->> "excluding YOU by reason of MY NAME" . I ask them if they can see Jehovah's promise to disfellowshipped Jehovah's Witnesses: . "He must also appear with rejoicing on YOUR part"! . I then warn them that, if they go through this narrow gate they will lose their family as a consequence of the Watchtower Societies shunning policies. . Then I ask them to read what Jesus Christ said about everlasting life: . Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news 30 who will not get a hundredfold now in this period of time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the coming system of things ** EVERLASTING LIFE ** . I then ask them if they want to live forever. . I also tell them that they can leave the organization and their congregation with dignity by telling everybody that they believe Jehovah, Jesus Christ and everything else in the bible. . Walk out with your head held high and jump for joy when you do. . What Jehovah said would happen, is now really happening! . That's Good News ................... right! . Jesus said: “Truly I say to YOU men, No one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOOD NEWS. . . I am now very HAPPY: . Luke 6:22-23 HAPPY are YOU whenever men hate YOU, and whenever they exclude YOU and reproach YOU and cast out YOUR name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man. 23 Rejoice in that day . [NAME OF PERSON] is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses ---->> "and cast out YOUR NAME" . . YOU CAN GO BACK TO BELIEVING BECAUSE WHAT JESUS CHRIST SAID WOULD HAPPEN, IS NOW REALLY HAPPENING! . Jesus Christ is Awesome! . I am a disfellowshipped believer. . Feel free to ask me questions. . .

[@isaiah30v8]

So who is right? . Jehovah? . or . Nine men who live in New York? . Psalm 146:3 Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. . .

[@Lovealwayswins1]

Lloyd thank you for being such a great listener and helping so many of us….

[@rebella5769]

Thank you, Lloyd, that was a genius reply. Spot on. I was so moved by your reply that I listened to it over and over. It was just what I needed to hear as well as the caller.

[@greenliion6390]

Thanks for taking all these voicemails! One day, I'll have the courage to leave one. Your vids really do help so many of us.

[@Chris-zh1ff]

Don’t listen to this seed destroyer draw closer to Jehovah brother trust in him

[@B.W-k8k]

@@Chris-zh1ff, If Jehovah exists, I'd say then prove your existence to me and give me a good reason to trust you first.

[@dilwich]

Had them at the door today and i kind of felt sorry for the two teens with them just looking at the floor, they seemed frightened.

[@noone3216]

What you saw was embarrassment. They probably go to school with kids who live somewhere near you and didn't want to be seen. Speaking from experience 😅

[@Eric_01]

They were frightened. Every fiber of your being is screaming how much you hate doing that and that you are embarrassed. The fright comes from the power of the peer group and the judgement that looms over every member if they even wobble from the line.

[@BarbaraMullins-t5s]

I am so astounded that you are still online and giving advice to these people who are still "in". I don't know where you find your strength. Thank you. You were critical in helping me wake up. Thank you

[@Mary-t2p6p]

There is so much pain connected to this cult whether youre staying in or leaving.

[@Chris-zh1ff]

It’s not a cult

[@Eric_01]

@@Chris-zh1ff Yes, it is. It's people manipulated by people who instruct how to emotionally manipulate and segregate them from society and family. It's a cult by literal definition.

[@B.W-k8k]

@@Chris-zh1ff, I don't call the Witness faith a cult, but I still see it as problematic in so many ways, and that's why I'm no longer involved with it (well, that and the fact that I no longer believe its theological tenets).

[@latishabennett702]

Yes I agree!!!

[@suziekew33]

You're looking great, Lloyd! Love your hair, and your overall look. Hope you are feeling strong and well. Thanks always for the work you do!! 😊❤⭐

[@savannahmoon4865]

Great advise !! You’re the best Lloyd, by the way, you look awesome, love your hair ❤😊

[@LloydEvans]

Thanks so much Savannah!

[@jeanniejewel2272]

Great advise Lloyd

[@technicallyskeptical]

Hope you and your family pull through and leave this damaging cult

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

"we are constantly growing and you should not blame yourself for growing out of a cult; start loving and valuing yourself for who you are." 💯

[@haynehifanny8006]

What a masterly response. I had a lot to learn from this one. Great thanks Lloyd. 👍👏👏

[@ConservativeSatanist666]

Checking in haven't watched your channel in a minute. nothing's changed.. you're as awesome as always!! Keep up doing awesome work Lloyd Evans

[@FishGAMER-R6Z]

This one made me cry 😢 He really loves his wife

[@BenStevenson-c4z]

Jehovahs Witnesses will not Accept that their Beliefs Could Be Wrong because their is nothing else

[@josiasguiomar2504]

Apply that to ALL human religions, sorry, CULTS.

[@lisajane4330]

Yes I agree. My Aunty was disfellowshipped a couple of times many years ago & kept coming back because she said there was nothing else out there, I think the real reason is because all her family were in.

[@Eric_01]

There are literally a hundred thousand something else.

[@Jw66678]

Poor fella. He’s got a difficult situation. He’s really trying. But it’s not easy…Loyd you do good work! You are a good man! Despite whatever you have helped soooo many come out of the indoctrination. Myself! Hang in there bro

[@tommysmith5479]

I totally understand how the caller feels. It feels like a cage without a door. I think, personally, the caller just needs to carry on supporting his wife and child the best he can and hope that one day she, too, wakes up. Going back is not the solution, unfortunately.

[@disassociated1731]

i left 40 y ago, and I m convinced that my best achievement for my 3 children was to prevent them to lose decades of life as jws, but probably this man is not yet convinced of the dangers of christian fundamentalist cults, would he let his wife poisoning the child’s mind because he loves her?

[@Eric_01]

I think he's only on the fringe of a deconversion and has a long way to go before he sees all of the reasons why.

[@Madame_Perle_Enivrante]

Mauritius 🇲🇺 listening 👂 ❤😊

[@elizabethyoung4900]

A well thought out response Lloyd as always, so helpful.......

[@ResilientBeing1987]

I feel for PIMOs and POMOs in this man's situation

[@Cruchyplum]

And thats how the cult splits family up! If your belives arent the same as mine i don't love you anymore

[@mikekent1490]

What gets me is a burning question inside me. Was this ever the truth? I became a JW in 1978. I was a regular then special pioneer, elder, served where the need is greater. I started to wake up in 1995 then again in 2015 and fully in 2022. But was I misled even back then? Is there such a thing as truth? I no longer know.

[@stephencherry1387]

I was raised into it and became a ministerial servant. There is no “Truth” with that religion. Just lies and hypocrisy!

[@Mercipher21]

I hear you. I never held a title, but I'm 40 and 3rd gen JW on both sides of my fam with a long history of elders, pioneers, and bethelites. I've just woken up in the last 2 months and now I'm questioning my whole life. It's rough.

[@mikekent1490]

I’m so sorry. I’ve also accepted myself as a gay man after all these years of burying it and hiding.

[@michaelmccaffrey2731]

Read my above comment friend, you're not alone in this

[@majafleur9646]

I'm with you.... Makes you question everything.

[@sarahabram7008]

Un bonjour de France

[@racevanandros2916]

Ignorance is bliss

[@raeroms9589]

Looking sharp Lloyd. Love the hairstyle. 🤗

[@lisajane4330]

Great thought out response. He sounds like a lovely man, but atleast protect the children from the organisations psychological abuse, because that's what there teachings are.

[@B.W-k8k]

I would encourage the caller to always keep asking questions and to give yourself time to grieve over having lost a faith that was important you at one time in your life. It's a new phase in your life and it isn't always going to be easy, especially not at first.

[@victorlegret9036]

He just described my situation. Except elders Dfed me for not believing GB. And thus my wife is more angry at me that as described situation. what alarms me the most is he is OK with his kids to be indoctrinated. Lloyd, you do not need to be just guessing, we all have experienced it, it is always our fault in their eyes. My wife, my parents, her parents, elders, congregation, everyone points to the DFed person as the only source of all the relevant problems. My advice dear caller, as I am in the same I dare to say even worse version of your situation: Continue to love your wife, you do great, but do not be as passive. Plan how to slowly place information for your wife and your kids that will make them think, doubt, ask questions and see the reality. Do it very slowly, and lovingly as you clearly can. But do not be passive. Loving someone means to show them the truth.

[@Gsjehrwhjjrr]

Thanks ❤

[@Pioneiracarcomida]

❤

[@Chris-zh1ff]

Jehovah name endures forever xxx ❤❤❤

[@Eric_01]

So what? It's just a word without action.

[@B.W-k8k]

@Chris-zh1ff, And how would you know that? You don't know what the religious world will look like in 4 million years, let's say, if humanity is still in existence, then.

[@BarbaraMullins-t5s]

the damage of this cult, who can ever know the level of damage they have done

[@jakelynbrook]

The struggle is not only about us, it’s also about our children 😢 14:13

[@universeworld1782]

Everytime your wife goes to a meeting they are telling her your the bad one not her. She is the one with a problem, she is the one who is being mislead, and thats the problem. Your not the problem, they are! Therapy may help, the correct Therapist is key. One who understands Cult Therapy.

[@shawngrinter2747]

This is where these “religions” need to be declared a cult if they doesn’t allow other people to have different views. No wonder countries are starting to ban JWs I am *not* for banning a religion because I don’t believe in it but I am when they tell me I can’t exist.

[@CarolStanhope]

You look well!! Hope to see you next August in Boston @ Still Alive in 2025. 😎

[@racevanandros2916]

This Brothers plight saddens me profoundly. Much love on ya Bruh. I think I became pimo the day I was baptized. Always perceived as QW€€R I had to self protect/medicate, and when I finally could 👀The unforgiving, self righteous, judgemental, unforgiving demeanor and shunning divisive evil, decades later, even after crisis of conscience, this is what helped even MORE, not 2 B less. Not to remain. I would walk into the K haul singing free, put up my plexiglass wall. (NLP, use my imagination, reframing/careful/danger/) and was finally able to live MY life without wanting, needing to keep going back 🕊️

[@racevanandros2916]

I've never been married, so my only thought on that is holding on to loving people. Perhaps a conversation about reframing so your bond could be greater with your mate, not other people, any people. I think the scripture, "a three fold cord is not easily broken" does not apply to an organization that makes money printing literature and programming people to keep them in thrall 🕊️

[@michaelmccaffrey2731]

I've never been a JW but a similar situation happened to me. I have felt and said the same thing as him. I had a long relationship with a woman that started quoting the Bible to me and encouraged me to read Andrew Farley's book " Twisted Scripture". Once I started diving down the rabbit hole of studying the Bible and removing anything I was taught, I leaned towards JW, then, Jews for Jesus, then Judaism, then I discovered that the bible is a complete disaster. I do believe in God, however the Bible was designed for division, warmongering and control with fear tactics. I've had a few miraculous things happen, that could not have been coincidence, so I do believe in something.

[@PowerMetalAlien]

I sent the voicemail, friend. Good to know I am nor alone, it's been very difficult to deal with my loss of faith.

[@josiasguiomar2504]

My vision is quite similar to yours. My issue still is what is conscience? Do we reincarnate? If so, so do animals? One thing is for sure: If a creator exists(ed) he is neutral, not human religious or demanding worship. Do you demand worship from a son? Is that love? Is that freewill?

[@geraniumroseum]

​​@@josiasguiomar2504Answers are here - In the Light of Truth, Abd-ru- shin, here on KZbin is it too...

[@joonapuro8055]

Marriage is probably the hardest part of waking up. You may end up in a position where there are no good options at the time. You just need to decide which one of the painful decisions will cause you pain for a longer time. 😢

[@bettinasims-ep3dc]

My heart bleeds for you & your loved family. To live a lie will eat away at you.

[@davidmay3042]

As with grief,time is the healing factor. If your wife is agreeable to give you both time and not focus on your renouncing the faith,I think things will settle down. It worked for me

[@ckelly5141]

Don’t give up brother. I disassociated in 2020 after 40 years in. All my family stayed in, and I am shunned by all except my wife, but our relationship is not the same. I left WT because I finally realized that it is not the truth. The truth is Christ. He is also the way(to God), and the life, because all who believe in him will get salvation, starting now. I hope that you will find the real Christ by begging Jehovah to please save you. It’s possible, it has happened to me and other JW’s. God bless you.

[@josiasguiomar2504]

You have many christs that predated the one you mention. Which one was real? I would say none.

[@Eric_01]

You're still greatly confused.

[@ckelly5141]

@@Eric_01 Please do tell. I’m fascinated already.

[@Eric_01]

@@ckelly5141 Well, buckle up, buttercup. The entire Christ concept is wrong, whether it's the JWs or not. Quitting the org and maintaining their core belief is not the grand exit you seem to think it is. You even still use the "J" word. Hilarious! It always cracks me up when an indoctrinated person starts wizzing on other an indoctrinator just to jump right in the sack with another one. I really wish you could see you through me. It's...fascinating.

[@ckelly5141]

@@Eric_01 Were you ever a JW yourself?

[@Mark-ec3lp]

NEVER go back to a highly toxic relationship. If you want to believe, read the Bible and DO NOT involve any outsiders in your study. You don't need men wearing suits to help you understand scripture, nor do you need a church or any people to control, manipulate, extort your hard-earned money, nor tell you what to wear, how to style your hair, sexual rules with your own wife/husband, and you definitely don't need to have fear over you, blackmailing you if you ever leave the cult. God didn't write Watchtower Magazines, He did not add footnotes to scripture, and did not give any organisation exclusivity. FREE YOUR MIND!!

[@Gil3490]

if you are going to wish for the impossible then why not wish that they would stop believing

[@PowerMetalAlien]

Good point. I kinda do.

[@Eric_01]

@@PowerMetalAlien Kinda? I'm becoming more and more confused about your lack of enthusiasm to get them out of this.

[@B.W-k8k]

As I stated in my previous comment, I think one has to give themselves time to grieve over losing their faith, even if you end up embracing another, it's going to be hard losing your religion and it's going to feel scary especially when you've been involved with such a conservative and restrictive faith that has an almost unshakeable conviction in the idea of absolute truth that you can know with absolutely certainty when it comes to issues of religion and morality.

[@maltesetony9030]

Glad to see you ditched the dyed thatch, Lloyd.

[@chrisdeluen2608]

This story is exactly what happened to me now we are at the end of our marriage.

[@BenStevenson-c4z]

I have Spoken to Many Jehovahs Witnesses through the Years I am a Christian ✝️ I have always believed in Jesus Christ as Personal Lord and Saviour the Jehovahs Witnesses have a Different Bible than Other Christians similar to the Book of Mormon I’ve Debated them on Theology for Years they do not have the Same Beliefs as other Christian Denominations Like Catholics Anglicans Methodists Baptists etc

[@jakelynbrook]

I think the wt needs a REAL REFORMATION fast,💨 like in yesterday! 14:13

[@josiasguiomar2504]

@BenStevenson-c4z I think that, if religious people applied the same passion for a need of a "saviour" in researching human cults origins (abrahamic cults were infected by zoroastrian cult- akkadian empire/babylon) the cancer of lies that are human religions, would simply not exist. Concerning "jesus", once again I ask: was he the only to be born from a virgin, who pretended to save us and ascended to heaven? The answers are in a research´s reach....

[@Eric_01]

There are 3000 bible version. Every christian has a different version.

[@kindness996]

Very close to my situation. except my wife and i do not agree on anything and married online and without locus of control from jw indoctrination. I disassociated because i didn't want to lie to anyone. 3 years now of marital seperation, and needing a chaperon to see my daughters. My oldest daughter shockingly has recently said she doesn't want to be a jw and has entered the ER twice for cutting herself. I don't have financial and mental strength to do legal things.

[@majafleur9646]

If I could go back WITHOUT KNOWING what I now do, I would.

[@Eric_01]

Not me. It sucked from the very beginning, even when I believed it, it sucked. Was not a good life or feeling.

[@64maxpower]

As someone who has found an amazing therapist, if you first try and don't like therapy, please try another and another. There are both very great and very not good therapist out there. And try not to do online therapy. See them in office. And I suggest a female therapist

[@FishGAMER-R6Z]

My family thinks it's my mental health, I have bipolar

[@BenStevenson-c4z]

Most Jehovahs Witnesses I’ve Spoken To Say That They Would not Be Religious If They Were Not JWs they would be Atheists or Agnostics

[@latishabennett702]

😢😢😢❤❤❤👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@robotaholic]

Which do you care about most? honesty or happiness? Pick one and that will decide your next step.

[@Eric_01]

Huh?

[@loveFlow-fy2dk]

Dear Lloyd, I follow you, but I don't understand anything. It would be nice if there were credits and we could read. I think there are many of us. Thanks

[@bielefeldundmehr2461]

You mean subtitles?

[@Eric_01]

Click the CC at the bottom right of the video

[@shawngrinter2747]

…and why did the wife mention homosexuality?

[@B.W-k8k]

@shawngrinter2747, I think he was indicating that his wife finds the Watch Tower Society's negative stance against homosexuality to be questionable, that it just doesn't sit right with her. This could imply that she is having doubts about the faith herself.

[@thisguy2917]

"I know that when I put ithis steak in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize?...ignorance is bliss." What a heartbreaking message. Sometimes truth is incredibly painfull and it may seem easier to never have known it. But I hope the caller realizes that the truth of knowing there are 11 dudes in upstate NY that are holding countless numbers of families hostage with their lies and manipulation is better than being an ignorant enabler to the madness.

[@L-Nicole40]

I always think over that same scene from the Matrix. ❤

[@PowerMetalAlien]

I do, my friend, I do. My pain is all about the woman I love and how hard this is being on her. My eyes are wide open, though, there is no turning back.

[@B.W-k8k]

@thisguy2917, I've never been able to watch "THE MATRIX" (1999) movie all the way through.

[@shawngrinter2747]

This is where these “religions” need to be declared a cult if they doesn’t allow other people to have different views. No wonder countries are starting to ban JWs I am *not* for banning a religion because I don’t believe in it but I am when they tell me I can’t exist.

[@B.W-k8k]

@shawngrinter2747, I don't think any religion should be banned, but I don't see why they should be rewarded with legal goodies like having tax-exempt status.