New publications

 

Turning Point

Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice
and Supplementary Material
1996–2006
Beginning with the Four Year Plan in 1996, the Universal House of Justice set a new course in the teaching work for individuals, communities, and institutions. “The next four years,” the Supreme Body wrote, “will represent an extraordinary period in the history of our Faith, a turning point of epochal magnitude.” So potent were the implications of that Plan, that its single aim of advancing the process of entry by troops was carried forward into a series of plans, to span twenty-five years until the end the first century of the Formative Age in 2021. This book contains selected messages from the Universal House of Justice and other documents that guided the learning process of the Bahá’í world over the course of a decade, from 1996-2006, resulting in profound changes in consciousness and systematic action. By the end of this period, the House of Justice concluded, “The elements required for a concerted effort to infuse the diverse regions of the world with the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation have crystallized into a framework for action that now needs only to be exploited.”

The book is divided into three parts. Part I includes forty messages from the Universal House of Justice, from December 26, 1995 to Ridván 2006. Part II involves an exploration of particular themes, such as “Learning in Action,” “Learning to Maintain Focus,” and “Learning to Administer Growth,” that includes copious extracts from messages written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to individuals and National Assemblies. Part III contains a number of supporting documents from this period which were approved by the House of Justice or prepared by the International Teaching Centre, such as “Training Institutes” and “Building Momentum.” This volume serves as a significant resource, tracing the evolution of thought over this important period and outlining the essential concepts that guide current activities for expansion and consolidation in clusters worldwide. Through continued study and reflection on these and other materials, Bahá’ís will gain a clearer vision of the “methodological pattern of functioning” and the culture of learning that has come to characterize the efforts of Bahá’í individuals, institutions, and communities.
Author: Compilation
Price: $12.00
 
 

The Five Year Plan, 2006-2011, 2nd edition

Messages of the Universal House of Justice
This compilation contains letters of the Universal House of Justice initiating the Five Year Plan 2006-2011. At this time the Bahá’ís of the world enter the midpoint of that series of Plans, beginning in 1996 and continuing for a quarter century until the year 2021, which all focus on a single aim—advancing the process of entry by troops. The compilation includes the Ridván 2006 letter, the Ridván 2005 letter and three letters from December 2005: the letter dated 27 December 2005, to the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors; the letter dated 28 December 2005, to all National Spiritual Assemblies; and the letter dated 31 December 2005, to the Bahá’ís of the World.
Author: Compilation
Price: $1.00
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Learning to Respond to Emerging New Realities

Messages from the Universal House of Justice
This compilation contains two letters addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States: the letter dated 19 October 2005, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice including its enclosure Impact of Growth on Administration Processes dated July 2005, which was prepared by the International Teaching Centre. Also included is the letter dated 5 January 2006, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice.
Author: Compilation
Price: $1.00
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The Essence of the Covenant

Features, History, and Implications
The Essence of the Covenant discusses the features, history, and implications of the “essence” of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant: the continuity of divine guidance through the Faith's authorized institutions. This text explores such themes as the purpose of the Covenant, the station and function of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the scriptural foundation and authority of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice, the break in the line of Guardians, the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice, and the individual’s relationship to the Covenant. Similar in format to its predecessor volumes–The Path Toward Spirituality and Raising the Call–this book is ideal for personal or group study, containing detailed explanations, quotations for reflection, illustrations, and study questions.
Author: Shahin Vafai
Price: $9.00
 

Treasures of the Cause

Early Stories of the Bahá’í Faith
These are the stories of the early believers who by the fire of the love of God became as flaming torches, lit the path of servitude and walked through it, sacrificing their all for the Beloved — stories of true believers who trod the path of mortality and reached the Ultimate Reality; stories of love, humility, sacrifice, martyrdom, steadfastness, humor and victory.
Author: Rose Deloomy
Price: $7.00
 

Breezes of Confirmation

This book tells the story of Musonda, a young girl who has just turned 13, and her older cousin Rose, who has come to visit for the school holidays. A theme that runs throughout the story is that of making an effort and receiving God's confirmations. While the book maintains a certain level of simplicity in terms of sentence structure and flow, the use of difficult words is not avoided. By placing such words in different contexts, and drawing out their meaning through exercises, the text builds vocabulary and strengthens literacy skills. The book works best with youth aged 11 and 12.
Author: William Mmutle Masetlha Foundation
Price: $5.00
 

Walking the Straight Path

Stories have traditionally been a means for conveying moral concepts from one generation to the next. The Badi Foundation in Macau draws on this tradition by bringing together twenty stories from different cultures in Walking the Straight Path. Each story is relatively short and followed by a series of exercises designed to further comprehension, build vocabulary, and enhance moral reasoning. Short quotations for memorization are also provided. The book is intended to be studied by young people aged 13 to 14.
Author: The Badi Foundation
Price: $5.00
 

Drawing on the Power of the Word

This book seeks to enhance the power of expression and explore the moral implications of speech and action. It consists of twenty readings, each of which is complemented by exercises in language skills. The readings begin simply, but gain in complexity both in terms of thought and language. The first reading introduces Diego and his youth group, who live in the small town of Alegrías. With the help of a tutor from the nearby institute named Elisa, the group thinks about the power of enlightened words and pure deeds to bring about social change. The book is designed for youth aged 14.
Author: The Ruhi Foundation
Price: $5.00