Covenant
Counsellor Harris says that Hand Dr. Muhajir said we shouldn’t wait to serve the Faith. “The Covenant is the dominate theme of the Six Year Plan.” The Universal House of Justice said, “A covenant is based on mutual assurances and obligations.” The ancient promise of Isaiah to translate the tools of war into the tools of peace is made possible by God’s Covenant as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. He quotes the recent finding that “800 million people live in despair with no hope of improvement.” “Every day 40,000 children die” from hunger and disease.
Secret Service
Counsellor Harris speaks of the importance of a lifetime of service to God which is actually service to ourselves, our community and service to Bahá'u'lláh. He quotes Bahá'u'lláh Book of Laws (Kitab-i-Aqdas): "Obey to my commandments for love of my beauty". Obeying His command brings us closer to Him; so much so we surrender our will to it. We need to study the Faith, deepen in it, pray and teach it to other. Sometimes we just can't feel it in our heart. Why is that? He shares two quotes from the Hidden Words. The first: "O Son of Dust!
Opportunities for Service
Dr. Jane Faily
Jane Faily starts by saying that as the “all human institutions are in disorder”; so too is Bahá’í marriage. We live in one of the most trying times in history.
Ms. Faily then explores the traditional roles of men and women in marriage and society. In the past there was stability and harmony in marriage; that order rested on the dominance of men and the compliance of women. That has disappeared. “We are in an awkward age.” The harmony has vanished. We need to recreate the institution of marriage based on Bahá’í teachings.
Dr. Faily parallels the last six years of Bahá'u'lláh's life with the Six Year Plan (1986-1992). Bahá'u'lláh emerged from the prison at ‘Akka and the Baha'is emerged from the prison of obscurity. In "Epistle To The Son Of The Wolf", Baha'u'llah summons His followers to achieve personal salvation and in 1986, the Universal House of Justice summons Baha'is to work toward achieving world peace. Acceptance of the Covenant brings tests, but there is true freedom in obedience and service to God's Will.
May I Be of Service
Dr. Jane Faily
Jane Faily starts by saying that as the “all human institutions are in disorder”; so too is Bahá’í marriage. We live in one of the most trying times in history.
Ms. Faily then explores the traditional roles of men and women in marriage and society. In the past there was stability and harmony in marriage; that order rested on the dominance of men and the compliance of women. That has disappeared. “We are in an awkward age.” The harmony has vanished. We need to recreate the institution of marriage based on Bahá’í teachings.
Dr. Jane Faily speaks of her experience of growing up in a family of twin cultures…American and Iranian. ‘Abdu’l-Baha warned the North American Bahá’ís that tests here will be “mental tests”, not physical. Shoghi Effendi, in one of his last messages to America warned us of "apathy, timidity or complacency” that could rob us of “the prizes within your reach”. Dr. Faily believes that testing can be described as happening within three circles. The widest circle is the world. Within that circle is the Bahá’í Community and the inner-most circle is your heart. All three circles will be tested.
Extraordinary Community Relations
Mr. Taylor speaks to the importance of the role of the individual in developing our Baha'i communities. He quotes The Guardian, who writes about the importance of bringing new believers to the Faith, which will lead to entry by troops. The foundation of the community has to be the individual. Mr Taylor gives examples of how one or two "crazy for Baha'u'llah" Baha'is can create innovations that have brought positive change to communities He also points out that we must learn to love each community member for his or her love of Baha'u'llah.
Developing Strong Baha’i Community-The Challenge
Mr. Morris Taylor talked about the value of virtues within the Bahá’í community. The essential elements of unity in the community are love, forgiveness and courtesy. He quotes Bahá'u'lláh “O people of God! I exhort you to courtesy.” “Courtesy is indeed … the lord of all virtues. Blessed is he who is adorned with the mantle of Uprightness and illumined with the light of Courtesy. He who is endowed with Courtesy is endowed with a great station.” We underestimate the value of courtesy. Courtesy is a station of God.
Serving the Right of God
Dr. Daryush Haghighi is a Trustee of the Huqúqulláh, which means "The Right of God". He teaches the audience to pronounce Húququ’lláh as ho-coo-ko-law. The Institution of Huqúqulláh is a sacred institution. In the Six Year Plan the House of Justice has made the education in Huqúqulláh one of its goals. Dr. Haghighi reviews the history of Huqúqulláh going back to Bahá'u'lláh first appointments and worked his way through to the time of the Universal House of Justice. The Law of Huqúqulláh is found in the Book of Aqdas.
Commitment to Service
Dr. Manuchehr Derakhshani describes some of the recent changes on the Persian Affairs Committee on which he serves. He then reads Shoghi Effendi’s opening statement from “The Promised Day Is Come” and explains it will, according to the Writings, lead to the ‘Most Great Peace’ which will in turn lead to a world civilization. It will be the climax of the integration of the human race as a whole. The Faith is the “pattern and nucleus” of the promised New World Order. This statement is repeated in “The Promise of World Peace” by The Universal House of Justice.
Service Charge
Mr. Claudius Adebayo, from the National Treasurer’s Office, explains that he became a Bahá’í at Green Lake “in this very room 12 years ago”. So it is an emotional homecoming for him. He goes over some recent changes in the Treasurer’s Office and some other things that can be anticipated in the future. For one thing the Office is trying to get away from “giving you negative financial” reports. Since 1972 our budget has more than tripled. He explained how the budget is made and the fund goal determined.