Power of the Covenant

The Plan of God is Guided by the Living Guardian through the Power of the Covenant

Our guidance as to the needs of the time and the best way to contribute to the Plan come through the Center of the Covenant. At the time of His passing, Bahá’u’lláh appointed `Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant and the Authorized Interpreter of His Writings. The existence of a clear Center of the Covenant to whom all Bahá’ís turn is one of the unique, distinguishing features of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh.

“As to the most great characteristic of the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh — a specific teaching not given by any of the Prophets of the past — it is the ordination and appointment of the Center of the Covenant. By this appointment and provision He has safeguarded and protected the religion of God against differences and schisms, making it impossible for any one to create a new sect or faction of belief. To insure unity and agreement He has entered into a Covenant with all the people of the world including the Interpreter and Explainer of His teachings, so that no one may interpret or explain the religion of God according to his own view or opinion and thus create a sect founded upon his individual understanding of the Divine words. The Book of the Covenant or Testament of Bahá’u’lláh is the means of preventing such a possibility, for whosoever shall speak from the authority of himself alone shall be degraded. Be ye informed and cognizant of this.”

— `Abdu’l-Bahá, “Promulgation of Universal Peace” p. 455-456 —

Following the passing of `Abdu’l-Bahá, the First Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, became the authorized Interpreter of Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings.

“He is the Interpreter of the Word of God,” `Abdu’l-Bahá, referring to the functions of the Guardian of the Faith, asserts…”The mighty stronghold,” He further explains, “shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the Cause of God.”

– `Abdu’l-Bahá, “Will and Testament of `Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 11

During the thirty-six years of his Guardianship, Shoghi Effendi fixed the pattern and laid the foundations of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh, by setting in motion the implementation of the Divine Plan of `Abdu’l-Bahá for the spread of the Faith throughout the world.

One element of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh that the First Guardian implemented was to establish the Universal House of Justice, an Institution which Bahá’u’lláh described in the Kitab-i–Aqdas. Shoghi Effendi established the EMBRYONIC UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE in the form of the First International Baha’i Council, with Mason Remey as its President. The institution of the Universal House of Justice must be headed by a living Guardian, since the UHJ does not have the right of interpretation of the Holy Writings without a living Guardian at its head.

“It should be stated, at the very outset, in clear and unambiguous language, that these twin institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose. Their common, their fundamental object is to insure the continuity of that divinely-appointed authority which flows from the Source of our Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers and to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings.”

– Shoghi Effendi, “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh,” p. 148

At this time, the Guardian of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh is Joel B. Marangella. It is to him that the Bahá’ís turn for the plans, instructions, and guidance needed to carry out their role in carrying forward the Plan of God.

“If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the words they speak, the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and provide a foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on high will defend them, and the angels of the Abhá Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down to their aid.”

–“Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Bahá,” p. 81

The Appointment of a New Contingent of Hands of the Cause of God

I take this joyous occasion to congratulate the appointment of a new contingent of Hands of the Cause: Jean Olsen, Chad Olsen, Ian Roebuck, Barbara Walsh, Paul Henderson, Mark Marangella, and Rajendra Upadhyaye.

With this Historic Appointment of new Hands of the Cause by our beloved Third Guardian, the plan of God has inched further towards its Goal. The coming generations will witness the successful completion of the Divine Plan through a living Guardian.

Y.H Taylor

30-4-13