We live in the midst of populations which are in desperate
need of the Message of Bahá'u'lláh. It is our duty to present it lucidly and
convincingly to as many souls as possible. The darkness and suffering around us
not only are the signs of a need, but also present us with an opportunity which
we must not fail to use. Conveying the message is merely the first step. We
must then ensure that it is understood and applied, for, as we read in one of
the letters written on behalf of the Guardian: "Until the public sees in
the Bahá'í Community a true pattern, in action, of something better than it
already has, it will not respond to the Faith in large numbers." When
people embrace the Cause, they should then, through the Teachings, develop
their relationships with each other and with their fellow-citizens to gradually
produce a truly Bahá'í community, a light and haven for the bewildered.
(The
Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 151, 1994)
