The Jehovah's Witnesses used to teach it was proper to worship the Lord Jesus.
This changed on January 1, 1954.
January 1, 1954
The Watchtower: Consequently, since the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is not a trinitarian co-person with God the Father, but is a distinct person, the Son of God, the answer to the above question must be that no distinct worship is to be rendered to Jesus Christ now glorified in heaven. Our worship is to go to Jehovah God. However, we show the proper regard for God’s only-begotten Son by rendering our worship to God through and in the name of Jesus Christ. Even now when we kneel in prayer, as Paul did according to Ephesians 3:14-19, we offer prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in obedience to his own directions (John 15:16; 16:23-26), but the prayer itself is addressed, not to Jesus, but to God his Father. (Questions From Readers, January 1, 1954, page 31)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1954008
"Prayer is part of our worship"
1. The Watchtower: As the true and living God, Jehovah wants us to pray to Him, not to someone else. Prayer is part of our worship and for this reason should be directed only to the Creator, Jehovah. (Matt. 4:10) (How to Pray and Be Heard by God, May 15, 1969, page 293)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1969361
2. The Watchtower: Should Christians pray to Jesus Christ? No. (Do You Remember?, June 15, 2015, page 32)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015450
Worship
1. Awake!: Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship Jesus. (My Sikh Heritage—And My Search for Truth, December 22, 1987, page 22) https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101987926
2. Awake!: The Bible shows that we should worship God alone. (Not Everything Called "Christian" Is Approved by God, January 8, 1973, page 28)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101973008
Before 1954
1. Watch Tower Reprints: Prayer, it was shown, consists not merely of petition or request, but as a general term also includes invocation, adoration, communion and thanksgiving. It was pointed out that the prayers of "babes in Christ" are usually requests for earthly favors and blessings, whereas the advanced Christian rarely requests earthly favors. His prayers are usually thank offerings and communion seasons--telling the Lord (the Father or the Son, either or both, for the Father, as well as the Son, loves us;--John 16:27--and we have promise of communion with both;--John 14:23--both are to be worshiped and loved equally, for "all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father;" --John 5:23 (Our Chicago Convention, September 1893, Vol. 14, No. 17, 18, page 1580-1581)
2. Vindication, vol. 3: The princes will lead the people in their worship of Jehovah and of Christ. (c. 1932, page 295)
3. The Watchtower: While there in Jerusalem Simeon the man of God, and the aged prophetess Anna, blessed and worshiped this Son of God. (Mary, the Mother of Jesus, August 15, 1950, page 266)
Quote #1 is when Charles Taze Russell ran the show (1879-1916).
Quote #2 is when Joseph Rutherford was in charge of their organization (1917-1942.)
Quote #3 is when Nathan Knorr was the top guy (1942-1977).
More evidence can be quoted if necessary.
Lord willing in the coming days I will provide quotes from the Jehovah's Witnesses which affirm prayer or worship to the Lord Jesus even after January 1, 1954. They made this huge change (a wrong one) in their doctrine, but the light of praying to and worshiping the Lord Jesus can never be extinguished. Each quote from them that will be given is a contradiction to what they affirmed in 1954. This teaching of theirs continues to this day.
This changed on January 1, 1954.
January 1, 1954
The Watchtower: Consequently, since the Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is not a trinitarian co-person with God the Father, but is a distinct person, the Son of God, the answer to the above question must be that no distinct worship is to be rendered to Jesus Christ now glorified in heaven. Our worship is to go to Jehovah God. However, we show the proper regard for God’s only-begotten Son by rendering our worship to God through and in the name of Jesus Christ. Even now when we kneel in prayer, as Paul did according to Ephesians 3:14-19, we offer prayer in the name of Jesus Christ in obedience to his own directions (John 15:16; 16:23-26), but the prayer itself is addressed, not to Jesus, but to God his Father. (Questions From Readers, January 1, 1954, page 31)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1954008
"Prayer is part of our worship"
1. The Watchtower: As the true and living God, Jehovah wants us to pray to Him, not to someone else. Prayer is part of our worship and for this reason should be directed only to the Creator, Jehovah. (Matt. 4:10) (How to Pray and Be Heard by God, May 15, 1969, page 293)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1969361
2. The Watchtower: Should Christians pray to Jesus Christ? No. (Do You Remember?, June 15, 2015, page 32)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015450
Worship
1. Awake!: Jehovah’s Witnesses do not worship Jesus. (My Sikh Heritage—And My Search for Truth, December 22, 1987, page 22) https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101987926
2. Awake!: The Bible shows that we should worship God alone. (Not Everything Called "Christian" Is Approved by God, January 8, 1973, page 28)
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/101973008
Before 1954
1. Watch Tower Reprints: Prayer, it was shown, consists not merely of petition or request, but as a general term also includes invocation, adoration, communion and thanksgiving. It was pointed out that the prayers of "babes in Christ" are usually requests for earthly favors and blessings, whereas the advanced Christian rarely requests earthly favors. His prayers are usually thank offerings and communion seasons--telling the Lord (the Father or the Son, either or both, for the Father, as well as the Son, loves us;--John 16:27--and we have promise of communion with both;--John 14:23--both are to be worshiped and loved equally, for "all men should honor the Son even as they honor the Father;" --John 5:23 (Our Chicago Convention, September 1893, Vol. 14, No. 17, 18, page 1580-1581)
2. Vindication, vol. 3: The princes will lead the people in their worship of Jehovah and of Christ. (c. 1932, page 295)
3. The Watchtower: While there in Jerusalem Simeon the man of God, and the aged prophetess Anna, blessed and worshiped this Son of God. (Mary, the Mother of Jesus, August 15, 1950, page 266)
Quote #1 is when Charles Taze Russell ran the show (1879-1916).
Quote #2 is when Joseph Rutherford was in charge of their organization (1917-1942.)
Quote #3 is when Nathan Knorr was the top guy (1942-1977).
More evidence can be quoted if necessary.
Lord willing in the coming days I will provide quotes from the Jehovah's Witnesses which affirm prayer or worship to the Lord Jesus even after January 1, 1954. They made this huge change (a wrong one) in their doctrine, but the light of praying to and worshiping the Lord Jesus can never be extinguished. Each quote from them that will be given is a contradiction to what they affirmed in 1954. This teaching of theirs continues to this day.
Last edited: