Chapter 10

Chapter 102,135 wordsPublic domain

Statements on Various Subjects. These statements are extracted from letters to individual believers. These extracts are not found elsewhere in this compilation. They are from letters written by the Guardian's secretary at his specific direction. The arrangement is according to subject matter.

(81) ALASKA--Important

Your letter to our beloved Guardian was received, dated September 10th, and he is very happy to welcome you into the service of this glorious Faith, and especially to see that you are going to serve in Alaska, a country to which he attaches great importance.

(82) ALASKA--Incorporation of L.S.A. and growth

He was also delighted to hear of the incorporation of Anchorage. The Faith is certainly going ahead by leaps and bounds in the "barren North"!

(83) ALASKA--Spirit of confidence

He was delighted with all the good news you conveyed of the progress of the Cause in Alaska, the radio broadcasts, the new believers, and the spirit of confidence and devotion which animates you all in serving our precious Faith.

(84) ALASKA--Unity of believers

He was very happy to hear of the unity of the Alaskan Baha'is; they are a Community particularly dear to his heart, and he hopes that in the years to come the Cause will make remarkable progress in that land.

(85) ANTI-CHRIST

We do not believe in Anti-Christ in the sense the Christians do. Anyone who violently and determinedly sought to oppose the Manifestation could be called an "anti-Christ," such as the Vazir in the Bab's day, Haji Mirza Aqasi.

(86) CHRIST--RESURRECTION

We do not believe that there was a bodily resurrection after the crucifixion of Christ, but that there was a time after His ascension when His disciples perceived spiritually His true greatness and realized He was eternal in being. This is what has been reported symbolically in the New Testament and been misunderstood. His eating with His disciples after resurrection is the same thing.

(87) CHRIST--Virgin Birth

What science calls a virgin birth we do not associate with that of Jesus Christ, which we believe to have been a miracle and a sign of His Prophethood. In this matter we are in entire agreement with the most orthodox church views.

(88) FEAR--Overcoming fear

He will certainly pray that you may entirely over-come your fear-complex. When you concentrate your thoughts on realizing that you now belong to Baha'u'llah, are His servant whom He loves and will always help, if you ask Him to, and that the great spiritual strength of the Cause of God is behind you for you to draw upon, you will soon see your fears melting away.

(89) FOOD-Storage

With regard to the storing of food--this is something which the Spiritual Assembly will have to determine, based on local conditions; and based on discussions with Local Authorities. The Guardian feels it is not a subject which can be generally legislated upon.

(90) GOD--Nature of our Knowledge

We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet. We see the Perfection of God in His Prophets. Time and space are physical things; God, the Creator, is not a "place" as we conceive of place in physical terms. God is the Infinite Essence, the Creator. We cannot picture Him or His state, but if we did, we would be His equals, not His creatures. God is never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets we see His Divine characteristics and perfections.

(91) IMMORTALITY--Cause of Happiness

He will pray for the progress and happiness of the soul of your dear daughter in the invisible, spiritual worlds. He feels your attitude in this physical separation from her is exemplary, and is causing her great happiness now.

(92) INVESTMENTS

He leaves such matters as investments, etc., to the discretion of individuals who are free to consult experts and make their own decisions, and he feels this applies also to the shares in the prospective oil land which you asked his advice about.

(93) MANIFESTATIONS--Future Manifestations

The bud, the flower, the fruit are only symbols to convey to us the sense of the progress being made by man in receiving ever fuller Revelations from God. In spite of the vast spiritual significance of what Baha'u'llah has brought to the world we humans have infinite progress to make in the future. Future Prophets will bring us new laws suitable to our state of development and continue to educate us on this planet, but they will be under the shadow of Baha'u'llah for five thousand centuries.

(94) PHOTOGRAPHS--of the Master

There is no objection to your copying pictures of the Master for your friends, but do not do it on a wholesale scale. He has always preferred that the friends should have the Master's photo rather than his own.

(95) PRAYER

We cannot know God directly, but only through His Prophets. We can pray to Him, realizing that through His Prophets we know Him, or we can address our prayer in thought to Baha'u'llah, not as God, but as the Door to our knowing God.

(96) PRE-EXISTENCE--of Prophets

The Prophets, unlike us, are pre-existent. The soul of Christ existed in the spiritual world before His birth in this world. We cannot imagine what that world is like, so words are inadequate to picture His state of being.

(97) JOSEPH SMITH--Statements in Book of Mormon

As there is nothing specific about Joseph Smith in the teachings, the Guardian has no statement to make on his position or about the accuracy of any statement in the Book of Mormon regarding American history or its peoples. This is a matter for historians to pass upon.

(98) SOUL--Origin

The soul or spirit of the individual comes into being with the conception of his physical body.

(99) STUDY

Shoghi Effendi advises you to study "Some Answered Questions" and the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" which help you to grasp these questions.

(100) TEACHINGS--Acceleration

The Guardian was very happy to learn that the teaching work in Alaska is being accelerated. May the momentum being gained, not be lost, but on the other hand intensified, so the forthcoming National Assembly may have a wide and strong base.

The world is seeking for a solution for its increasing problems, and if the friends arise with the dynamic spirit of the Faith, assured of final victory, many seeking souls will enter the Faith, and find eternal life.

(101) TEACHING--Importance

The more one observes the conditions of the world and the terrible problems confronting humanity, the more deeply one realizes that the only remedy is that which Baha'u'llah has brought, and yet, alas, the masses of the people seem to not yet be aware that the way out of our problems can only be a divine way, given by something far greater than human understanding! However, many souls are seriously thinking and seeking, and the Baha'is must try to bring the knowledge of the teachings to all, so that those prepared to accept may not be denied the Message.

(102) TEACHING--Participation of Children

He is happy that the children are being attracted. They are the pillars of the future, and should be trained and encouraged in every way, to learn the details of the teachings, and how to teach others. For the true source of existence is the diffusing of Glad Tidings.

(103) TEACHING--Remaining at Post

He would certainly advise you to remain in Alaska and continue to teach and give the small but devoted Community there your active support.

(104) TEACHING--Teaching Relatives

He would not advise you to in any way force the teachings on your husband, but rather through prayer, love and example attract his heart to what he will be forced to see has not only made you a happier person but a better wife and mother than ever before. It is often most difficult to teach those nearest to us, but the Guardian will earnestly pray that your husband and children will join you in serving this wonderful Cause.

APPENDIX

ADDRESSEES

Letters addressed to individuals by letter number. Only letters presented in their entirety are indicated.

1. Honor Kempton

2. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

3. Honor Kempton

4. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

5. Melba M. Call (King)

6. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

56. Honor Kempton

57. Betty Becker

58. Frances L. Wells

59. Melva Pippel

60. Margaret Pirkey

61. Frances L. Wells

62. Margaret Pirkey

63. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

64. Frances L. Wells

65. Robert E. ("Pat") and Georgine Moul

66. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

67. Verne and Janet Stout

68. Margaret Pirkey

69. Edgar Russell

70. Robert E. ("Pat") and Georgine Moul

71. Frances L. Wells

72. Howard J. Brown

73. Rose Perkal (Gates)

74. Mable Amidon

75. Vernon Huffman

76. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

77. Name withheld by request

78. Rose Perkal (Gates)

79. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

80. Margaret Pirkey and Frances L. Wells

FOOTNOTES

1 All of the messages in this book are numbered sequentially for the convenience of the reader and as an aid in indexing. The numbers appear before the date of each letter. The Editors.

2 (Letter No. 1) Honor Kempton was the first Pioneer to Alaska under the first Seven Year Plan.

3 (Letter No. 2) Janet Whitenack (Stout) was the first person to enroll in the Faith in Alaska during the first Seven Year Plan.

4 (Letter No. 4) Janet Whitenack (Stout) had secured a school teaching position in the village of Tuluksak on the Kuskokwim River.

5 (Letter No. 5) Melba Call (King) was the first Eskimo to become a Baha'i. While she was born and raised in Alaska, she was residing in New Mexico when she heard of the Faith and became a Baha'i.

6 (Letter No. 17) Based on these directions from the Guardian, the first Haziratu'l-Quds was purchased inside the City limits at 810-8th Avenue. At that time (1955) the population of Anchorage was less than 25,000 concentrated around what is now downtown Anchorage. Following the earthquake in 1964, it was necessary to abandon the original Haziratu'l-Quds. The property was sold for $20,000 and a diligent year-long effort was made to find a suitable replacement. Nothing appropriate could be found inside the city limits within the price range. Guidance was requested from the Universal House of Justice. In a letter dated May 11, 1965, they stated the following, "...we feel that it is more important that you should acquire a national Haziratu'l-Quds for Alaska without delay. Preferably is should be within the civic limits of Anchorage but if you cannot find a suitable building which can be purchased for the $20,000 which you have available, you should look for a location in the immediate suburbs of Anchorage...."

7 (Letter No. 27) Mrs. Sarah Mary ("Granny") Roberts was 87 years old when she became a Baha'i.

8 (Letter No. 27) Joyce Anderson Combs was the first Tlingit Indian to become a Baha'i in Alaska. The first Alaskan Native to become a Baha'i while living in Alaska was Agnes Parent (Harrison).

9 (Letter No. 29) Joyce Campbell (Baldwin).

10 (Letter No. 35) Martha Brown (Reed).

11 (Letter No. 44) Arthur and Wilma Gregory and Vern and Evelyn Huffman.

12 (Letter No. 50) This ringstone was given by the Greatest Holy Leaf to Mrs. Marie Lowell of Santa Barbara, California who gave it to Frances Wells. Mrs. Wells gave it to the Alaska National Archives.

13 (Letter No. 57) Miss Honor Kempton served in Luxembourg after leaving Alaska.

14 (Letter No. 57) Miss Dagmar Dole came to Alaska shortly after the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. She pioneered to Europe and is buried in Switzerland. The Guardian said she was a "distinguished consecrated pioneer."

15 (Letter No. 69) Seward was opened by the pioneering of the Edgar Russell family.

16 (Letter No. 70) This letter so encouraged the friends when it was re-read a year and a half later that it changed attitudes from one of discouragement to confidence and enthusiasm which resulted in the formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Ketchikan the following Ridvan.

17 (Letter No. 76) Janet Johnson (Smith) later became the Secretary of the Alaska National Spiritual Assembly.

18 (Letter No. 76) The Baha'i Center at Unalaska was dedicated by Florence Mayberry at the first public meeting in February, 1958.

19 (Letter No. 76) Aleutian Islands.