My Story of Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses

(Cedars' vlog no. 239) In this video I share the story of my transition from believing Jehovah's Witness, committed to being reunited with his mother in a future resurrection, to an "apostate" ex-JW activist.

[theislandworkshop]

i was a JW from birth to the age of 15, within years of me leaving my older sister left and my younger brother, and then a few years after that both my parents left. im now 33 and we now joke that my dad wanted to be a JW to save money on Christmas and birthdays. love what your doing, keep it up.

[sarahlee]

My daughter find you while the whole family was still a witness even the elders came to our house to talk to us. 3 years later the whole family is out and love your Chanel. You are reaching people and preventing families from being torn apart. Thanks 🙏

[saffronhammer]

Despite all I suffered, I am no longer angry at being raiesd JW, as I know my mother was doing her best and truly believed she was saving my life and giving me everlasting life. But, if I could go back in time and wake up decades earlier--and not raise my two daughters in this Doomsday cult, I would. If there were anything I could do to take away from my children the unhappiness and trauma and very real lasting damage, I would.

[stevesstuff]

Closing in on 40 year years since I was disfellowshipped as a teenager and it still hurts. I think about my family every day and wonder if they think about me.
You couldn't begin to understand how much you have helped me. Thankyou sincerely

[natswii]

I'm not a JW or even religious and stumbled on this topic via Chris Stuckman video but the topic is fascinating.

[dustinlee]

This is my husbands and I’s first year after leaving - we left in February of this year but have been thinking about it for a few years prior to that. I’m currently pregnant with our third baby and the only part I find hard is knowing that our families don’t get the joy of knowing these wonderful kids. Also knowing that they think we are troubled or in some way rebelling. When its strictly just been a realization, an awakening and finding happiness elsewhere. Being abandoned for a different way of thinking really just seals the deal in my mind. Thank you for sharing your story!

[laurajones]

Thank you for sharing your story, Lloyd. It takes a great deal of courage and self-awareness to be able to walk away from a destructive belief system, especially when that system is what you have known your entire life. You have helped me understand Jehovah’s Witnesses and their mindsets, and actually helped me better understand their point of view. Your criticism and scrutiny is valid and fair, not scathing or rage-filled. Thank you for sharing your story with us, including those deeply personal and very painful moments. I think you have helped people more than you know.

[amandapark]

I appreciate your opening up and owning your full story. I have a lot of respect for you for that and I think I can speak for most exjws when I say that the work you and other activists do is truly extraordinary and we can't thank you enough.

[alexflores]

I left my desktop on... I noticed my mom which is a witness started to listen to your video. I didn't say anything until she started questioning me about you! I'm being friendly towards her and the organization and I am happy she is still questioning me about your channel ;)

[essiepess]

So proud of you Lloyd! I’m a former brainwashed cult addict and have been free and clean for around 15 years now lol! Have been privately reproved, publicly reproved and disfellowshipped, had the full blown book thrown at me basically and I’m happier now out of it than I ever was! I still get the messages of pity, and the ‘what a shame’ comments which make me giggle as I am the free one! Good for you fella, all the best to you and your family!

[fredrogers]

Only those who have grown up in this religion can understand how difficult it can be to abandon friends and in many cases family members. Thank you for sharing your story, hope you have enjoyed celebrating your birthday for the first time!

[theresatexas]

So glad I stumbled onto your video. I was a JW for 53 years. Left in 2012 and never been happier.

[sandraschwan]

Thank you for sharing your story. Please consider interviewing more women who have left the organization. The abuse of power and male dominated hierarchy among JW's is extremely oppressive to women. This was one of the main reasons I left the organization.

[anonymoususer]

Best thing I ever did was leave. Beginning of the end was when a pioneer told me when my baby was hungry, “let him stay hungry, he needs to learn to suffer. This is an essential quality for a servant of Jehovah”. This was just one of many eye-opening moments for me. I appreciate your videos. And seriously you’re like the best husband ever!

[coalhouse]

I was never JW.. i was Mormon but the similarities in yout stories to mine are scary

[stephenhammonds]

Faded in 97. My folks have never met my daughter now 21. Yeah I was angry, but I don't think about it anymore and I am very grateful that she never had anything to do with these people. Thanks for your honesty

[manny]

I was born in 1941 and grow up with JW parents with firm conviction about their faith. While growing up, I accompanied them in their weekly house-to-house preaching. I became very active in the faith, and at the age of 18, I became a Literature Servant ( that was the terminology before), and was groomed to be a Congregation Servant (an old terminology). While in college, I met all kinds of students with all kinds of beliefs and found them to be nice people. I began to question my belief that I should only associate with people of my belief. After college, I began to question some of our dogmas and began to notice people of my congregation the way they treated their families. Some were nasty, some have broken families, and I attributed that to the religious teachings... hence a handful were broken families. A few years after college, and employment, I married my girlfriend with a different religion. We were married in her church. We raised our 3 wonderful children as Catholics, with an emphasis to respect for all kinds of religions My youngest sister happily married an Egyptian Arab, our youngest daughter happily married to an American Jewish, my 2 sons married Catholics. We gather together every Christmas and Hanukah and we combine the celebration with unity and joy. An awesome tradition for us.

[scottw.williamson]

Thank you so much for your videos!! The video where you had the meeting with the elders to be disfellowshipped, Truly woke me up, and helped me leave once and for all. Keep up the good work brother.

[michellejarvis]

Elders never apologize. So true. An elder's wife assaulted me physically in the Kingdom Hall. He was standing 2 feet away and didn't left a finger to stop her. He was told to apologize. He basically said that I deserved to be assaulted. I am so glad I am out of that toxic environment.

[blvckemo_]

I'm lucky I left while 17 I still have a long life ahead I can enjoy without silly restrictions