1982
1 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.
2 Heartwarming progress in
the construction of the Indian and Western Samoan Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs,
the opening of the second Bahá'í radio station of Latin America in Peru, the
establishment of the European office of the Bahá'í International Community in
Geneva, steady advances in the second phase of the Seven Year Plan, encouraging
expansion of the systematized Bahá'í education of children, sacrifice and
generous outpouring of funds from a growing number of friends, all testify to
the abundant confirmations with which Bahá'u'lláh
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 Bahá'í history.
3 All this, dear friends,
augurs well for the coming year which is rich in Bahá'í 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.
4 The distinguished and
invaluable activities of the beloved Hands of the Cause are a source of pride
and joy to the entire Bahá'í 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 Bahá'u'lláh.
5 As to Bahá'í 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 Bahá'u'lláh:
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.
6
The
rising sun of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation is having its
visible effect upon the world and upon the Bahá'í 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-Bahá 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 Bahá'u'lláh
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