A century ago, the Faith was emerging from a period of
severe crisis during which the incarceration of 'Abdu'l-Baha by His inveterate
antagonists in the Ottoman Empire had been renewed, a grievous assault on the
unity of the Cause had been launched by the Covenant-breakers, and an upsurge
in the persecution of the heroic Persian believers had produced a fresh wave of
sacrifice. In the immediate future there lay dazzling victories. The strenuous and
fate-laden journeys of 'Abdu'l-Baha to the western world would release
incalculable spiritual powers destined to give rise to unprecedented progress
of the Faith in the American and European continents He visited. The Tablets of
the Divine Plan would set in motion processes designed to bring about, in due
course, the spiritual transformation of the planet. The Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha would
establish the basis for a future world order.
(The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 21 March 2009 to
the Baha’is of the world)
