Small group witnesses for God in Cache Valley towns
A faithful group of 16 gathered for a book study at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. In the modern-looking chapel, with green pews and tasteful carpet, Bill Coulson, a resident of Cache Valley since 1974, began the study. The opposing walls in the front of the chapel are adorned with a scripture from the book of Colossians, chapter 4 verse 12.
“Stand complete and with firm conviction in all the will of God,” the verse states in English and Spanish.
The Kingdom Hall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses was built in four days by more than 600 volunteers in August 1996, Coulson said.
“One contractor said it couldn’t be done,” he said.
Coulson said the first congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Cache Valley was established in Smithfield in 1947, when there were only 207,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in the world. That number has now increased to more than 6 million with 1 million Witnesses in the United States.
The Logan congregation was established in 1955 and rented out spaces to hold meetings until a Kingdom Hall was built on 600 West, Coulson said. There are currently two congregations, one English speaking and one Spanish speaking, meeting in the Kingdom Hall in Nibley, located at 2813 S. U.S. Highway 165. Each congregation has approximately 60 Witnesses who regularly attend meetings.
According to an introductory tract published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, the witnesses began as a Bible study group in Allegheny, Penn., led by Charles Taze Russell. The first issue of the magazine Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence, later shortened to The Watch Tower, was published in July 1879. The Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in 1881 and was incorporated in 1884 with Russell as president. International proselytizing work had started by 1909 and the society’s headquarters were moved to its present location in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Russell died in 1916 and was succeeded the following year by Joseph F. Rutherford. Changes took place including the introduction of a new magazine, a greater emphasis on door-to-door witnessing and in 1931 the name Jehovah’s Witnesses was adopted. The name is based on Isaiah chapter 43, verses 10 through 12.
10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
Coulson said his experience joining the Witnesses was common to many people who join one of the 91,487 congregations around the world. Coulson had neighbors who were Witnesses and dated one of their daughters. He studied the Bible with them.
“I came to the realization that I must have knowledge of the Bible,” Coulson said.
He said people who desire to join Jehovah’s Witnesses begin by studying the Bible. Candidates for membership are tested to determine the extent of their knowledge and when ready, make a public declaration of their intent to dedicate their life to Jehovah by being baptized by immersion.
Kevin Willeto, a New Mexico native who moved to Logan in 1986, was contacted by a group of Witnesses from Los Angeles who were proselyting door-to-door. He said he felt he connected with a 99-year-old man who talked to him about living in paradise forever.
“I found it very appealing,” Willeto said.
Willeto was baptized in July 1995.
One of the Witnesses’ beliefs that commonly meets criticism is that of a lack of celebration of birthdays and holidays.
Sandy Atkinson, a 35-year Witness, said the reason is there are origins to many commonly celebrated holidays that have pagan origins, meaning they are not taught in the Bible.
“There is no record of early Christians celebrating [like that],” she said.