Message from the Universal House of Justice:
19 March 1972
To the Beloved of God gathered in the Conference called on
the occasion of the Dedication of the Mother Temple of Latin America
Dear Bahá'í friends,
With praise and gratitude to God the whole Bahá'í world
acclaims the dedication of the Mother Temple of Latin America, an edifice which
glorifies the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh at that point where, the beloved Master
asserted, "the Occident and the Orient find each other united through the
Panama Canal," where "The teachings, once established ..., will unite
the East and the West, the North and the South."
This historic project, in a hemisphere of infinite spiritual
potentiality, fulfils one of the most important goals of the Nine Year Plan,
and brings untold joy to the hearts of the friends in every land. Privileged
are they who share in the raising of this glorious Silent Teacher with deeds of
loving generosity and sacrifice. A crown to the labours of all those who have
striven to establish the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh in Latin America, this Mashriqu'l-Adhkar,
the rallying point for the Bahá'ís of those lands, whether they are of the
blessed Indian peoples or represent the other races whose diversity enriches
the nations of that hemisphere, will be a fountainhead of spiritual
confirmations, and this mighty achievement will endow the Bahá'í Community with
new and greater capacities, enabling the friends in Latin America, and particularly
in this privileged land of Panama, to win victories that will eclipse all their
past achievements.
The threefold task to which your attention is now directed comprises the proclamation, expansion and consolidation of the Faith. We urge you to concentrate your deliberations not only on the exchange of ideas for the prosecution of this task, but on ways and means for fostering collaboration among the Bahá'í Communities of Central and South America so that the most fruitful harvest may be gathered in all three aspects of the teaching work and enable you to achieve your remaining goals of the Nine Year Plan.
Our loving, ardent prayers will be offered at the Sacred
Threshold, that the Almighty may inspire your discussions in this historic
Conference [1] and crown all your efforts with victory.
The Universal House of Justice
(The Universal House of Justice, ‘Messages from the
Universal House of Justice 1963 - 1986, p. 210)
[1] The International Teaching Conference held in
conjunction with the dedication of the House of Worship was held in Panama
City, 28 April -- 2 May 1972.]