And these accommodations will be within whatever price range you feel will fit your budget.

Meals during the assembly will be no problem. At each convention location a cafeteria will be set up, providing nourishing meals at nominal cost. It is, in fact, common to see entire families eating together at the convention cafeteria. Mealtimes on such occasions are fine opportunities to make new acquaintances and hear many unique experiences.

MAKING UP YOUR MIND

Of course, the first step is to make up your mind to attend. It is no casual matter. It is not something to be determined lightly one way or the other. Your decision could have far-reaching effects on yourself and your loved ones. Any one of Jehovah’s witnesses can tell you from personal experience that his first assembly marked a turning point in his life—a turn toward a happier and fuller life of association and service with Jehovah’s genuine worshipers. Your future and that of your family, your survival through the end of this wicked system of things now so near, may well hinge upon how strong a faith you can build in just a short time. Being present to listen and learn at the assembly of Jehovah’s people can contribute much toward such faith-strengthening.

Think of Jehovah’s provision for his typical people, the Israelites. From time to time he called them into general assembly in order to fortify them against the evil influences of the pagan people around them. Today, too, Jehovah provides for his modern-day people to assemble and be armed against the snares and schemes of Satan, the god of this present wicked system of things. So plan to attend a 1969 international assembly of your choice and get a foretaste of the joy, the unity and the contentment that will be Jehovah’s gift to obedient humans in his imminent new order. Make it your first assembly.

Questions From Readers

● Why was it a sin for King David to take a census, as reported at 2 Samuel chapter 24?—M. C., U.S.A.

We must frankly say that we do not know with certainty, for the Bible does not tell us precisely wherein this was a sin. Yet, giving some thought to this occurrence makes it clear that Jehovah was in no way unjust or cruel in his handling of it.

The account says: “The anger of Jehovah came to be hot against Israel, when one incited David against them, saying: ‘Go, take a count of Israel and Judah.’ So the king said to Joab the chief of the military forces who was with him: ‘ . . . register the people, and I shall certainly know the number of the people.’ But Joab said to the king: ‘May Jehovah your God even add to the people a hundred times as many as they are while the very eyes of my lord the king are seeing it. But as for my lord the king, why has he found delight in this thing?’ Finally the king’s word prevailed upon Joab . . . And David’s heart began to beat him after he had so numbered the people. Consequently David said to Jehovah: ‘I have sinned very much in what I have done.’”—2 Sam. 24:1-10.

Taking a census or registration of the people was not something prohibited in Israel. Not long after the exodus from Egypt, God spoke to Moses about taking “the sum of the sons of Israel as a census of them.” This listed all males who were eligible for military duty, and a head tax was taken for the service of the tabernacle. (Ex. 30:11-16; Num. 1:1-3) Another census was taken shortly before Israel entered the Promised Land.—Num. 26:1-4.