Letter from the delegates of the 73rd National Convention to the Universal House of Justice
From the delegates to the 73rd National Convention to the Universal House of Justice.
To The Beloved Universal House of Justice,
We bow our heads in humble gratitude for the manifest bounty that Canada received at Riḍván: a perfect bestowal, a wondrous gift —our national House of Worship. It is difficult to express the joy and ecstasy of the assembled delegates, spiritually invigorated by a reverent visit to the Temple site, as we envisioned the expansive prospect ahead of our national community. We understand that our National Spiritual Assembly has already indicated that our community will be able to shoulder the entirety of the costs associated with the raising up of the Temple during the Nine Year Plan; the delegates were delighted and eagerly affirmed our intention to do so, to partake of this fleeting bounty.
The spirit of the International Convention—conveyed by members of the outgoing National Assembly and our two beloved resident Counsellors, Ayafor Temengye Ayafor and Borna Noureddin—permeated the preparations, consultations, and the election itself. All 171 delegates voted in the rarefied atmosphere of the election, in which all ballots were valid. On the eve of the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of ten Bahá’í women in Shiráz, which we remembered together in our devotions, we recommit ourselves to continue Canada’s long-standing history of defending the believers in Iran.
The Counsellors’ contributions, especially the insights shared from their recent Conference, were indispensable in framing and illuminating our consultations. Viewing the film, An Expansive Prospect, also helped us reflect on what we are learning. The experience emerging about working with groups of families, with mothers at the forefront, and the implications of an expansive view of the institute, were particularly thrilling. We rejoiced in the recent movement of a number of new clusters past the third milestone. Inspiring stories about youth and whole families enrolling in the Faith were on many of the delegates’ lips, and experiences teaching specific populations, such as the Indigenous, French Canadian, Chinese, and Persian, among others, were discussed. An appendix to the National Assembly’s annual report explored the strengthening of the institute in Indigenous populations across Canada, which was most heartening, given that our destinies are intertwined. Many delegates were curious about efforts under way in the areas of social action and public discourse, and some shared glimpses of social transformation occurring in their clusters. The implications on material means for raising up a national House of Worship, in addition to strengthening various processes at all levels of our community, were not lost upon the delegates. We were also blessed to receive a message and presentation from our Board of Trustees of the Right of God, which helped us reflect on the profound significance and increase our love of that law. Throughout the Convention, the consultations were marked by a high degree of joy, unity, and fellowship. And of course, we were uplifted by the loving presence of Dr. Firaydoun and Mrs. Vida Javaheri.
Again, a thousand times over, we are deeply grateful for this gift the Universal House of Justice has bestowed upon our nation, upon all the peoples of Canada. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said that, “To express his gratitude for the favours of God man must show forth praiseworthy actions. In response to these bestowals he must render good deeds, be self-sacrificing, loving the servants of God, forfeiting even life for them, attracted to the Kingdom of Abhá, the face radiant, the tongue eloquent, the ear attentive, striving day and night to attain the good pleasure of God. Whatsoever he wishes to do must be in harmony with the good pleasure of God. He must observe and see what is the will of God and act accordingly. There can be no doubt that such commendable deeds are thankfulness for the favours of God.”
The Bahá’í community of Canada pledges itself to show forth this kind of thankfulness, unremittingly seeking the good pleasure of the Universal House of Justice.
With loving Baha’i greetings,
Delegates at the 73rd Canadian National Convention
