The Universal House of Justice
26 April 2002

The National Spiritual Assembly of The Bahá'ís of the United States

Dear Bahá'í Friends,

The spirit and substance of the annual Ridvan message you have addressed to

your community have impressed us for the vision, courage and sense of

determination conveyed. We are moved therefore to express our warm

commendation for your assertion of such qualities of leadership at a time

when the Army of Light must of necessity be doubly mobilized to counter the

march of forces of darkness that are wreaking fear and confusion in the

hearts of people everywhere.

In the confused aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, your

placing of the statement, "The Destiny of America and the Promise of World

Peace" in a December edition of "the New York Times" reflected a mastery of

opportunity on your part; for the statement conveyed a message that was not

simply appropriate to the tragic situation it addressed, it was unique as

well to the experience of the American public because of the source and

character of the information, challenge and solace it offered at a painful

moment in the life of your nation. So bold and timely an initiative

illustrates the degree of alertness that should obtain if constructive

responses are to be made by the followers of Bahá'u'lláh to the special

opportunities that arise from incidences of crisis and turmoil for the

propagation of His healing Message.

We have no doubt that the members of your community, in their desire to

ensure the unhindered progress of the Cause of God, will take to heart and

translate into effective deeds the insights and guidelines you have set

forth as requisites to their success in the Five Year Plan. The lines of

action you have so clearly delineated for advancing the process of entry by

troops make for a welcome integration of effort at all levels of the

community. The teaching work, largely stimulated by the increasingly

effective media campaign, driven by individual and collective activity, and

fortified by the consolidation work involving the institute process and its

study circles, as well as the devotional meetings, children's classes and

youth programs that are multiplying-all these constitute key elements which,

operating within the framework of cluster, can and will guarantee a

systematic pattern of growth.

The eagerness with which these activities are being embraced throughout the

community, taken together with the demonstrated generosity of the American

believers in providing material means, bodes well for a thrust in the

progress of the Cause in the United States. In this regard, we also take the

opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude and admiration for the

sacrificial manner in which they support the various funds-local, national,

continental and international-to which they contribute substantially in fat

or lean times. In addition to these, the efforts they make to respond to

special needs of the Cause, as in the case of the World

Centre Endowment Fund abroad and in that of the Kingdom Project at home,

proves beyond any doubt the strength of their faith and the depth of their

devotion to the one Source through which the ills of the world can be

healed. May they continue to appreciate the spiritual priorities that such

individual material sacrifices serve. The worse world conditions become, the

more acute the need for such devoted acts of generosity. Writing in the

tablets of the Divine Plan of the requirements of the teaching work, the

beloved Master asserts that "The scope of your exertions must needs be

extended", immediately following with the promise that "The wider its range,

the more striking will be the evidence of divine assistance". It is a

thought that bears consideration as well with regard to providing the

material means on which the progress of such spiritual activities as

teaching and administration of the Cause so largely depends.

The glorious destiny so clearly forecast in the divine Texts beckons the

dearly loved followers of the Blessed Beauty in your land to heights of

striving yet to be attempted. Our heartfelt prayer at the Holy Threshold is

that whatever of that destiny lies in their immediate possibilities at this

critical time will be achieved with resounding triumph through their

unceasing and unwavering endeavor.
With loving Bahá'í greetings,
[signed]
The Universal House of Justice
cc: International Teaching Centre