Dearly loved friends,
Triumphs of inestimable portent for the unfoldment of the
Cause of God, many of them resulting directly from the steadfast heroism of the
beloved Persians in face of the savage persecutions meted out to them, have
characterized the year just ending. The
effect of these developments is to offer such golden opportunities for teaching
and further proclamation as can only lead, if vigorously and enthusiastically
seized, to large-scale conversion and an increasing prestige.
Heart-warming progress in the construction of the Indian and
Western Samoan Mashriqu'l-Adhkars, the opening of the second Baha'i radio
station of Latin America in Peru, the establishment of the European office of
the Baha'i International Community in Geneva, steady advances in the second
phase of the Seven Year Plan, encouraging expansion of the systematized Baha'i
education of children, sacrifice and generous outpouring of funds from a
growing number of friends, all testify to the abundant confirmations with which
Baha'u'llah rewards the dedicated efforts of His loved ones throughout the
world. The world-wide attention accorded
the Faith in the media, which has opened wide the doors of mass proclamation of
the divine Message, and the sympathetic discussion of it in the highest
councils of mankind with the resulting actions taken by sovereign governments
and international authorities, are unprecedented in Baha'i history.
All this, dear friends, augurs well for the coming year
which is rich in Baha'i occasions. The fiftieth anniversary of the passing of
the Greatest Holy Leaf will be commemorated at the five International
Conferences and by the publication of a book, compiled at the World Centre,
comprising texts about her and some hundred of her own letters; the move to the
permanent Seat of the Universal House of Justice will take place; in November
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the passing of our beloved Guardian will coincide
with the midway point of the Seven Year Plan and the year will terminate with
the fifth International Convention when members of National Spiritual
Assemblies throughout the world will come to Haifa to elect the Universal House
of Justice.
The distinguished and invaluable activities of the beloved
Hands of the Cause are a source of pride and joy to the entire Baha'i world.
The assumption of wider responsibilities by each Continental Board of
Counsellors is proving an unqualified success and we express our warm thanks
and admiration to the International Teaching Centre and all the Counsellors for
the great contribution they are making, in increasing measure, to the stability
and development of the embryonic World Order of Baha'u'llah.
As to Baha'i youth, legatees of the heroic early believers
and now standing on their shoulders, we call upon them to redouble their
efforts, in this day of widespread interest in the Cause of God, to enthuse
their contemporaries with the divine Message and thus prepare themselves for
the day when they will be veteran believers able to assume whatever tasks may
be laid upon them. We offer them this
passage from the Pen of Baha'u'llah:
Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday
of his life will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of
the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such a grace
is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth. Blessed are the
steadfast and well is it with those who are firm.
The rising sun of Baha'u'llah's Revelation is having its
visible effect upon the world and upon the Baha'i' community itself.
Opportunities, long dreamed of for teaching, attended by showering
confirmations, now challenge in ever-increasing numbers, every individual
believer, every Local and National Spiritual Assembly. The potent seeds sown by
'Abdu'l-Baha are beginning to germinate within the divinely ordained Order
expounded and firmly laid by the beloved Guardian. Humanity is beaten almost to
its knees, bewildered and shepherdless, hungry for the bread of life. This is
our day of service; we have that heavenly food to offer. The peoples are
disillusioned with deficient political theories, social systems and orders;
they crave, knowingly or unknowingly, the love of God and reunion with Him. Our
response to this growing challenge must be a mighty upsurge of effective
teaching, imparting the divine fire which Baha'u'llah has kindled in our hearts
until a conflagration arising from millions of souls on fire with His love
shall at last testify that the Day for which the Chief Luminaries of our Faith
so ardently prayed has at last dawned.
The Universal House of Justice
(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)
