Doctrine changes and “new light”

“The next chapter will present Bible evidence that 1874 A. D. was the exact date of the beginning of the “Times of Restitution,” and hence of our Lord's return.”

“THE TESTIMONY OF GOD'S STONE WITNESS AND PROPHET, THE GREAT PYRAMID IN EGYPT … The Great Pyramid a Storehouse of Truth — Scientific, Historic and Prophetic.”

“Since he has been present from 1874, it follows, from the facts as we now see them, that the period from 1874 to 1914 is the day of preparation.”

“There is therefore no justification for applying any of these texts to the pyramid of Gizeh. … It is impossible to fit the literal pyramid of Gizeh to the prophet's description; but the position and condition of the remnant of God exactly fit the prophetic description”

“The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ began in 1874 A.D.”

“Thinking people would rather have smallpox than vaccination, because the latter sows the seed of syphilis, cancers, eczema, erysipelas, scrofula, consumption, even leprosy and many other loathsome affections. Hence the practice of vaccination is a crime, an outrage and a delusion.”

“Avoid serum inoculations and vaccinations, as they pollute the blood stream with their filthy pus.”

“Vaccination is a direct violation of the everlasting covenant that God made with Noah after the flood.”

“The King's presence or parousia began in 1914, and then his appearing or epiphaneia at the temple came in 1918.”

“The conclusions arrived at were published in the June 1 and 15, 1929, issues of The Watchtower in the article, in two parts, entitled “The Higher Powers”. … Romans 13:1-7 has since 1929 been taken by Jehovah's witnesses to be instructions on rendering to God what belongs to God. Why? Because the expression “the higher powers” is now understood to mean primarily the Most High God and his reigning Son Jesus Christ.”

“the Christian witnesses conscientiously refrain from taking part in the politics of this world, yes, even from voting. … they consider it improper to exercise the democratic vote by which unconsecrated persons are put into worldly political offices.”

“those destroyed by God at Sodom and Gomorrah are eternally “cut off”. … By no wresting of scripture can this be made to mean a future resurrection for slain of the Lord. … If those slain by the Lord at Sodom have no resurrection, then those slain by him at Armageddon will have none, for the former pictures the latter.”

“The matter of vaccination is one for the individual that has to face it to decide for himself. … it does not appear to us to be in violation of the everlasting covenant made with Noah, as set down in Genesis 9:4, nor contrary to God's related commandment at Leviticus 17:10-14. Most certainly it cannot reasonably or Scripturally be argued and proved that, by being vaccinated, the inoculated person is either eating or drinking blood”

“It would therefore be a matter of individual judgment whether one accepted such types of medication or not.”

“This “great crowd” was anciently pictured by the Canaanite woman named Rahab in the days of Joshua, the successor of Moses.”

“When World War I began in 1914, the ruling power of the revived German Empire was found fulfilling the role of the “king of the north,” whereas the Anglo-American dual world power was fulfilling the opposite role of the “king of the south.””

“The inspired Holy Scriptures answer yes.”

“it does not seem that any Scriptural principle or law is involved. It therefore is something that each individual must decide for himself.”

“the taking of a blood transfusion, or, in lieu of that, the infusing of some blood fraction to sustain one's life is wrong.”

“Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, not about Christendom's political rulers, but about pagan rulers like Caesar and his governors and kings of individual nations. … So the “superior authorities” have their setting logically in the world outside the congregation.”

“So apparently individuals who used to live in that land will be resurrected.—Rev. 20:12, 13. … apparently it was not the people but the cities themselves that were everlastingly destroyed.”

“The question as to whether you and your children should be vaccinated is something for personal decision.”

“Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic. However, in allowing man to eat animal flesh Jehovah God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannibalistically taking into their bodies human flesh, whether chewed or in the form of whole organs or body parts taken from others.”

“In recent years in many lands a beard or long hair on a man attracts immediate notice and may, in the minds of the majority, classify such a person undesirably with extremists or as rebels against society. God's ministers want to avoid making any impression that would take attention away from their ministry or hinder anyone from listening to the truth.”

“So Jehovah’s witnesses strongly discourage its use, and they view as spiritually immature any Christians who continue to use tobacco.”

“Accordingly, the actual Gog of Magog who fulfills Ezekiel’s prophecy is Satan the Devil after his ouster from heaven, and the land of Magog is his location at the earth in which he is confined, with no freedom or power to leave it and reenter heaven.”

“any married person who goes outside the marriage bond and engages in immoral sexual relations, whether with someone of the opposite sex or someone of the same sex, whether natural or unnatural and perverted, is guilty of committing por·neiʹa or “fornication” in the Bible sense.”

“Then, too, grown-ups may not consider it proper for children to play with war toys, or at games of a military nature. Is it consistent, then, that they play a game noted to be, in the opinion of some, an “intellectualized equivalent of the maneuvers enacted by little boys with toy soldiers”? What effect does playing chess really have upon one? Is it a wholesome effect?”

“They may now be given a reasonable period of time, such as six months, in which to free themselves of the addiction. … If persons already baptized are not willing to abandon their addiction to damaging and enslaving products, what then? … They should therefore be removed from the congregation due to such conduct unbecoming a Christian.”

“If a dedicated, baptized Christian finds himself working in such an objectionable type of employment, he should arrange within a reasonable time, perhaps three months, to find other employment that would not be out of harmony with the requirements of the Scriptures for Christian living. On the other hand, if after such time period he would decide to remain in the objectionable employment, it would be necessary for the congregation to take action and expel the individual from the congregation.”

“That por·neiʹa can rightly be considered as including perversions within the marriage arrangement is seen in that the man who forces his wife to have unnatural sex relations with him in effect “prostitutes” or “debauches” her. … If, on the other hand, the lewd practices were engaged in by mutual consent, neither mate would have a basis for claiming por·neiʹa as a Scriptural ground for divorce. … Such a case, if brought to the attention of elders in the congregation, would be handled like any other serious wrongdoing.”

“In the past some comments have appeared in this magazine in connection with certain unusual sex practices, such as oral sex, within marriage and these were equated with gross sexual immorality. On this basis the conclusion was reached that those engaging in such sex practices were subject to disfellowshiping if unrepentant. The view was taken that it was within the authority of congregational elders to investigate and act in a judicial capacity regarding such practices in the conjugal relationship. A careful further weighing of this matter, however, convinces us that, in view of the absence of clear Scriptural instruction, these are matters for which the married couple themselves must bear the responsibility before God and that these marital intimacies do not come within the province of the congregational elders to attempt to control nor to take disfellowshiping action with such matters as the sole basis.”

“This seems to fall into a “gray area.” Some Christians believe that accepting a small amount of a blood derivative for such a purpose would not be a manifestation of disrespect for God's law.”

“It is a matter for personal decision. (Gal. 6:5) The congregation judicial committee would not take disciplinary action if someone accepted an organ transplant.”

“And we all know from our experience over the years that a simple “Hello” to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?”

“Christians related to such a disfellowshiped person living outside the home should strive to avoid needless association, even keeping business dealings to a minimum.”

“When we consider how Jehovah has been dealing with his people during the ‘harvest period,’ it seems evident that the heavenly calling in general was completed about the year 1935, when the hope of the “great crowd” of Revelation 7:9-17 was properly understood to be an earthly one.”

“Techniques for intraoperative collection or hemodilution that involve blood storage are objectionable to them.”

“When we consider what has actually occurred, it seems evident that the heavenly calling in general was completed by about the year 1935 C.E., when the earthly hope of the “great crowd” was clearly discerned.”

“Thus, a mate’s enforcing perverted acts, such as oral or anal sex, within the marriage would not constitute a Scriptural basis for a divorce that would free either for remarriage. … However, if it becomes known that a member of the congregation is practicing or openly advocating perverted sex relations within the marriage bond, that one certainly would not be irreprehensible, and so would not be acceptable for special privileges … Such practice and advocacy could even lead to expulsion from the congregation.”

“Then in 1932 the elective elders who were to have cooperated with the service “director” were replaced by a service committee of mature brothers filling various service positions in the congregation but still elected by the congregation.”

“These flashes of prophetic light prepared the ground for the historic discourse on “The Great Multitude,” given May 31, 1935, by the president of the Watch Tower Society, J. F. Rutherford, at the Washington, D.C., convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

“1935, flag salute: yb75 168-169 … 1936, Jesus did not die on cross: yb75 148-149; ch 27; g36 11/4 72 … 1973, tobacco and other harmful addictives: w73 338-343 … 1978, fornication (porneia) as grounds for divorce: w78 2/15 31-32”

“Whether the issue was shedding blood, noncombatant military work, alternative service, or saluting an image such as a national flag, faithful Christians took the position that there was no middle ground.”

“A recent review of this suggests that these verses need not be taken as statements about the future for the people of Sodom/Gomorrah … irreversible destruction.”

“Gog is “the ruler of this world,” Satan the Devil. He received the name Gog after his ouster from heaven, following the Kingdom’s birth in 1914.”

“Only Jehovah's Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.”

“Witnesses do not accept transfusions of whole blood, red cells, white cells, platelets, or blood plasma.”

“the spirit-anointed members of God's household at any given time collectively make up “the faithful and discreet slave,” “steward,” or “house manager.” Individually, the members of Jehovah's household are termed “domestics” or “body of attendants.””

“One person may feel that he in good conscience can; another may conclude that he cannot. Each must resolve the matter personally before God.”

“So no hard-and-fast rules should be made either for or against extra education. … This magazine has placed emphasis on the dangers of higher learning, and justifiably so, for much higher education opposes the “healthful teaching” of the Bible.”

“From Mr. Barbour, editor of that publication, Russell also came to be persuaded that Christ's invisible presence had begun in 1874. … They also came to understand that it was in the year 1914 that Christ's invisible presence had begun”

“For some 35 years, Pastor Russell thought that the Great Pyramid of Gizeh was God's stone witness, corroborating Biblical time periods. (Isa. 19:19) But Jehovah's Witnesses have abandoned the idea that an Egyptian pyramid has anything to do with true worship. (See “Watchtower” issues of November 15 and December 1, 1928)”

“This holiday was celebrated yearly even by members of the Watch Tower Society’s headquarters staff at the Bethel Home in Brooklyn, New York. … For years, Bible Students wore a cross and crown as a badge of identification, and this symbol was on the front cover of the “Watch Tower” from 1891 to 1931. … In their “Daily Manna” book, Bible Students kept a list of birthdays.”

“During the war years, the circumstances into which individual Bible Students were thrust varied. The way they dealt with these situations also varied. Feeling obligated to obey “the powers that be,” as they referred to the secular rulers, some went into the trenches at the front with guns and bayonets. … Though Jehovah’s Witnesses quickly discerned some issues that involve a Christian’s relationship to the world, other matters required more time. However, as World War II gathered momentum in Europe, a significant article in The Watchtower of November 1, 1939, helped them to appreciate the meaning of Christian neutrality.”

“As a further forward step in consistent application of that Bible counsel, none who were still smoking were accepted for baptism from 1973 onward. During the following months, those who were actively involved in tobacco production or in promoting the sale of tobacco were helped to realize that they could not continue to do that and be accepted as Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

“There was the question of who should serve as elders and deacons in the congregations. To get away from the hierarchical structure prevalent in Christendom, it was concluded that these should be elected democratically by the vote of the members of each congregation. But increasing light contained in The Watchtower of September 1 and of October 15, 1932, showed that the Scriptures do not provide for elective elders.”

“In 1926 another brilliant flash of light revealed that the war of Armageddon was not to be a social revolution, as Bible Students once thought. Rather, it would be a war in which Jehovah will demonstrate his power so clearly that all people will be convinced that he is God.”

“It had been thought that Revelation chapter 12 described a war between pagan Rome and papal Rome, with the male child representing the papacy. But that article showed that Revelation 11:15-18 had a bearing on the meaning of chapter 12, indicating that it relates to the birth of God’s Kingdom.”

“Similarly, for a long time, Witnesses spoke of the vindication of Jehovah’s name. But had Satan called Jehovah’s name into question? … That is why the Watch Tower Society’s recent publications do not speak of Jehovah’s name as being vindicated. They speak of Jehovah’s sovereignty as being vindicated and of his name as being sanctified.”

“It was long understood that this foreshadowed the Thousand Year Reign of Christ. In more recent times, however, it was seen that the antitypical Jubilee actually began at Pentecost 33 C.E., when those receiving the poured-out holy spirit were set free from bondage to the Mosaic Law covenant.”

“In 1935 a bright flash of light revealed that the great crowd mentioned at Revelation 7:9-17 was not a secondary heavenly class. It had been thought that the ones mentioned in those verses were some of the anointed who had not been fully faithful and so were standing before the throne instead of sitting on thrones reigning as kings and priests with Jesus Christ.”

“For many years the Bible Students made the cross prominent as a symbol of Christianity. They even had a “cross-and-crown” pin. … The book Riches, published by the Society in 1936, made clear that Jesus Christ was executed, not on a cross, but on an upright pole, or stake.”

“The Bible Students held that Peter received two keys that opened up the way for people to become Kingdom heirs—one for the Jews, used at Pentecost 33 C.E., and the other for the Gentiles, used first in 36 C.E. when Peter preached to Cornelius. … In time, it was seen that there was a third group involved—the Samaritans.”

“In the second volume of Vindication, published by the Watch Tower Society in 1932, a flash of light revealed that the restoration prophecies recorded by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and other prophets did not apply (as once thought) to the fleshly Jews, who were returning to Palestine in unbelief and with political motivations.”

“The very next year, bright light shone on the parable of the sheep and the goats. It was seen that this prophecy was to be fulfilled in the present Lord’s day, not in the future during the Millennium as previously thought.”

“From another ray of light, it was seen that Jesus referred not to just two but to three sheepfolds. ( John, chapter 10 )”

“In time, flashes of light revealed that Jehovah’s chief purpose was, not the salvation of creatures, but the vindication of his sovereignty. The most important theme of the Bible was seen to be, not the ransom, but the Kingdom, for it will vindicate Jehovah’s sovereignty.”

“Shortly thereafter, a flash of light caused the Bible Students to stop celebrating Christmas. Before that time Christmas had always been celebrated by the Bible Students worldwide, and its celebration at Brooklyn headquarters was a very festive occasion.”

“We have long felt that the parable depicted Jesus’ sitting down as King in 1914 and since then making judgments—everlasting life for people proving to be like sheep, permanent death for the goats. But a reconsideration of the parable points to an adjusted understanding of its timing and what it illustrates.”

“But the time when Jesus will pronounce final judgment on the sheep and the goats depicted in the parable is yet ahead.”

“That is his decision before Jehovah. Appointed elders and others should fully respect the conscience of the brother and continue to regard him as a Christian in good standing. If, however, a Christian feels that he cannot perform this civilian service, his position should also be respected. He too remains in good standing and should receive loving support.”

“In the past, some Witnesses have suffered for refusing to share in an activity that their conscience now might permit. For example, this might have been their choice years ago as to certain types of civilian service.”

“As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State.”

“Jehovah's Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God's law.”

“Hence, we do not donate blood, nor do we store for transfusion our blood that should be ‘poured out.’ That practice conflicts with God’s law.”

“The Bible Students regarded the great crowd as a secondary heavenly class, a group that had knowledge of Bible truth but did little about spreading it.”

“Among these would be the first human pair, Adam and Eve, the betrayer Judas Iscariot, and certain ones who died when God executed judgment upon them, such as the people in Noah's day and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah.”

“University and college campuses are notorious for bad behavior—drug and alcohol abuse, immorality, cheating, hazing, and the list goes on.”

“However, certain forms of employment are in clear violation of Bible principles and should be avoided. These include employment connected with gambling, the misuse of blood, and the promoting of tobacco products.”

“From the 1870’s to 1932, elders and deacons were voted into office by members of the congregation. In 1932 the elective elders were replaced with a service committee elected by the congregation to assist an appointed service director. During 1938, arrangements were made for the theocratic appointment of all servants in the congregation.”

“the composite sign that Jesus gave his disciples to enable them to recognize the time of his “presence and of the conclusion of the system of things” included the identification of a collective “slave.””

“Hence, especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly call ceased in 1935. … Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.”

“Fractions are derived from the four primary blood components—red cells, white cells, platelets, and plasma.”

“Remembering that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went as far as the plain of Dura, a Christian, under similar circumstances, may decide to go to the booth if his conscience permits.”

“that slave is made up of a small group of anointed brothers who are directly involved in preparing and dispensing spiritual food during Christ's presence. … In 1919, a time of spiritual revival, Jesus selected capable anointed brothers from among them to be the faithful and discreet slave and appointed them over his domestics.”

“Beginning in 1929, however, our publications had also reasoned that the superior authorities of Romans 13:1 were not the secular rulers at all, but Jehovah and Jesus. … The holy spirit guided Christ's followers to just such a view in 1962, when landmark articles on Romans 13:1-7 were published in the November 15 and December 1 issues of The Watchtower.”

“We will see in Chapter 5 that prior to 1935, it was thought that the “great multitude,” as described at Revelation 7:9, 10 in the King James Version, would include countless members of the churches of Christendom and that they would be made a secondary heavenly class as a reward for siding with Christ at the very end.”

“For many years, the Bible Students viewed the cross as an acceptable symbol of Christianity. … they proudly wore a cross-and-crown pin as an identifying badge. To them it signified that if they proved faithful to death, they would receive the crown of life. Beginning in 1891, a cross-and-crown symbol appeared on the cover of the Watch Tower.”

“Yet, the Bible Students did not at the time clearly see the need to stop celebrating Christmas. It continued to be celebrated even by members of the Brooklyn Bethel family. … For many years, the Bible Students viewed the cross as an acceptable symbol of Christianity. … they proudly wore a cross-and-crown pin as an identifying badge. … Beginning in 1891, a cross-and-crown symbol appeared on the cover of the Watch Tower.”

“Yet, the Bible Students did not at the time clearly see the need to stop celebrating Christmas. It continued to be celebrated even by members of the Brooklyn Bethel family. After 1926, however, things began to change.”

“In 1973 a further moral refinement came. The Watchtower of June 1 explained that no Witness of Jehovah could remain in good standing in the congregation while carrying on this death-dealing, defiling, and unloving practice. Those who refused to give up the misuse of tobacco were to be disfellowshipped.”

“Jehovah’s Witnesses are not prominent or influential. We do not vote, support political campaigns, or lobby politicians.”

“Many years ago, our publications stated that such faithful men and women as Deborah, Elihu, Jephthah, Job, Rahab, and Rebekah, as well as many others, were really types, or shadows, of either the anointed or the “great crowd.” … The clearest course is this: Where the Scriptures teach that an individual, an event, or an object is typical of something else, we accept it as such. Otherwise, we ought to be reluctant to assign an antitypical application to a certain person or account if there is no specific Scriptural basis for doing so.”

“For a number of years, our publications have explained that Gog of Magog is the name given to Satan the Devil after his ouster from heaven. … When we compare all these Scriptural references about the final attack on God’s people, it becomes evident that the name Gog of Magog refers, not to Satan, but to a coalition of nations.”

“In some cultures, a neatly trimmed beard may be acceptable and respectable, and it may not detract at all from the Kingdom message. In fact, some appointed brothers have beards. Even so, some brothers might decide not to wear a beard. In other cultures or localities, beards are not the custom and are not considered acceptable for Christian ministers.”

“For example, Henry enjoys playing chess. His school had a tradition of winning the championship, and he wanted to put forth his best effort. But he admitted: “Gradually, loyalty to the school began to take priority over my loyalty to God. Weekend chess matches were crowding out my Kingdom service. So I decided to give up being part of the chess team.””

“Note why we can say that today the king of the north is Russia and its allies. … when Nazi Germany filled the role of the king of the north, particularly during the second world war … After World War II when the Soviet Union took on the role of the king of the north … in 2018 the Governing Body identified Russia and its allies as the king of the north.”

“The Governing Body does not have an issue with brothers wearing beards. Why not? Because the Scriptures do not condemn the wearing of beards. … Thus, whether a brother wears a beard is a personal decision. A brother's qualifications to serve as an elder or ministerial servant are based on his spirituality, not on whether he chooses to wear a beard. … In harmony with Romans 14:4, neither the elders nor any other Christian should feel compelled to judge a brother who chooses to wear a beard.”

“At the recent annual meeting, we learned that as of last November, we'd no longer be submitting a detailed field service report. That was a big change, wasn't it?”

“Under our current arrangement, we don't say a greeting to individuals who've been removed from the congregation. However, the Governing Body has decided that publishers can use their Bible-trained conscience to decide whether to give a simple greeting and welcome a disfellowshipped individual who attends a congregation meeting.”

“We were thrilled to learn that individuals who died in the Flood of Noah's day, in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and even some who might repent during the great tribulation could benefit from Jehovah's mercy.”

“The Governing Body has decided that sisters may choose to wear slacks when participating in the ministry and when attending Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions. … In addition, brothers may choose not to wear a tie or a jacket when participating in the ministry and when attending Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions.”

“In the past, we said that once the great tribulation begins, no unbelievers will be able to take their stand for Jehovah and survive Armageddon. We came to that conclusion because we understood that the account of the Flood was a prophetic type. … Should we view the account of the Flood as a prophetic type? The answer is no. Why? Because there is no direct Scriptural support for doing so.”

“We have said that for such individuals as those in Sodom and Gomorrah, there is no hope of a future resurrection. But further prayerful study has raised the question, Can we really say that with certainty? … Can we say for certain, then, that none of them will rise in the “resurrection of . . . the unrighteous”? No, we cannot say for sure!”

“We also learned that as of November 2023, Kingdom publishers would no longer be asked to report all their activity in the ministry.”

“Do these adjustments about dress and grooming mean that we are lowering our standards? Not at all! … it's a recognition that styles change over time and that what's considered acceptable, dignified dress for certain occasions also changes over time.”

“In the past, we would not greet such a person. Here again, each Christian needs to use his Bible-trained conscience in this matter. Some may feel comfortable with greeting or welcoming the person to the meeting. However, we would not have an extended conversation or socialize with the individual.”

“For years, Jehovah's Witnesses have avoided this practice because it may have had origins in false religion. However, now in most places, toasting or clinking glasses no longer has any religious association. … the Governing Body has concluded that there is no need to make a rule regarding toasting and clinking glasses.”

“With this update, we'd like to clarify our understanding: While there are dangers involved in pursuing certain forms of education, basically, whether to obtain additional education or not is a matter for personal decision. … no Christian—including the elders—should judge a fellow Christian's personal decision on this matter.”

“Christians are not under the Mosaic Law. However, we obey the apostolic command to ‘abstain from blood.’ Furthermore, the Bible does not comment on the use of a person’s own blood in medical and surgical care. Therefore, like other choices about health care, each Christian must make his own decision about the use of his own blood in all medical and surgical care.”

“The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses announced on Friday that the decision to accept red cells, white cells, plasma or platelets from another person's blood is a matter of personal conscience. Likewise, each Witness must decide whether or not to donate blood for the clearly expressed purpose of providing components or fractions for use by another person. … The long-standing refusal of whole-blood transfusions on religious grounds, a core teaching based on the command to 'abstain from blood' (Acts 15:20), is unchanged.”

“After further prayerful consideration, the Governing Body has decided that this same principle applies to the four primary components of whole blood—red cells, white cells, plasma, and platelets—that are derived from another person’s blood. Therefore, each Christian must make his own personal decision about the use of these four primary components in all medical and surgical care.”

“No. Jehovah's Witnesses are not opposed to vaccination. We view vaccination as a personal decision for each Christian to make.”

“This will alert faithful ones in the congregation to stop associating with that person.—1 Cor. 5:11. … Such a person is treated in the same way as a disfellowshipped person.”

“the “slave” is composite. It was to be appointed in the time of the end as a channel to give out spiritual “food at the proper time.””

“Jesus indicates that at least some of those destroyed at Sodom and Gomorrah may be resurrected”

“it is up to the parents to guide their children in making a decision about supplementary education, weighing both the potential benefits and the sacrifices that such additional studies would entail.”