" A number of factors—including past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance—might cause some to assume mistakenly that they have the heavenly calling. We thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know."
Ok then, if there is no way of knowing how many there are and factors like "past religious beliefs or even mental or emotional imbalance" can have a bearing on whether one is or isn't, then how can anyone really trust that the GB is really anointed? Maybe their "mental or emotional" state to be part of the ruling elite moved them to profess and partake. The fact that the people that chose them are all part of the same inner circle makes it no different than the way the Mormons choose their Quorum of the 12. In this case, however, there are only 8.
Just a thought,
SOP