16 years old is an impressionable age especially when there is lack of love from parents. Biggest problem is that she got close to a witness and made him her boyfriend. Not only was he breaking some of jw rules by dating non-jw but also dating too young to marry. I'm guessing he got cought and the niece was told they couldn't be together unless she converts.
Since it appears that she really liked the guy she didn't think it would be too big of a deal to convert to another religion - right? Problem is, she's too young to marry, there is no guarantee the two will marry down the road as there is no guarantee he won't dump her in a week. That said, it's a horrible idea to jump in and study with cult members when she didn't know anything about them or their history. Once she accepted the study, JWs will be all over her! Love bombing galore! Being young and naive she will assume these people are wonderful thus will have no problem studying the "bible" with them. Actually they will study watchtower theology with cherry picked scriptures to support their ideas. As they began, the first ideas of living forever on paradise earth with perfect health and mind will appeal to anyone, let alone a child.
The girl, should be encouraged to take a month or two from the religion and given a chance to examine what ex members have to say, what the old doctrines were taught that she won't be told about and what kind of life she will have once she joins the group. She should examine jwfacts.com and read wikipedia on jws and the watchtower. If she can join this site and ask questions or read what others have said, this might help her. At this point, she was probably told that satan will try to test her or trick her to not study because satan doesn't want her to gain everlasting life - this is typical cult fear mongering and mind control. This satan bullshit applies to even the loved ones where once she truly believes this idea not even the most loving family member can make her stop the study as any attempt to break the study will only confirm jws' claim that satan is testing her.
It might be a good idea to reason with her that she's too young to marry at this time thus changing religion over a boy is not a good idea.
It might help to tell her that she should read some of the old publications they don't want her to read anymore, like Russell's Thy Kingdom Come and see what he taught regarding 1914 and Jesus return. Since she's new to jws, the new light may not be a problem at this point. She might be able to see through the "new light" deception.
Another good idea is to get her to read Steven Hassan's book(s) and compare the way jws are to other cults.
Maybe ask her if she would buy a used car from the seller without any research done prior to and without checking with other owners of these vehicles to see what they taught of these cars, similar to joining a new religion by only listening to those who are selling their version of god is not a good idea.
Get her to talk, and reason why jws discourage wts research or why they claim ex members are evil and should be shunned. But really it's the ex members she should really talk to to get any and all her questions answered, if not her then maybe the uncle could join here and ask for advise regarding the topics he's going to talk to her or the topics she brings up.
