BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

Epilogue 505a most fertile source of schism. Bahá’u’lláh, in the Book of HisCovenant, vested in His eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, full powersfor the interpretation of His Writings and for the direction ofHis Cause. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Will and Testament, appointedHis eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith andsole interpreter of the Writings. There is no priesthood withinthe Faith and no individual may claim special station or guidance;authority is vested in institutions created within the Bahá’íScriptures.By virtue of these unique provisions, the Faith of Bahá’u’lláhhas been preserved from schism, from the depredations of unauthorizedleadership, and above all from the infiltration of manmadedoctrines and theories, which in the past have shatteredthe unity of religions. Pure and inviolate, the revealed Word ofBahá’u’lláh, with its authorized interpretation, remains throughoutthe Dispensation the uncorrupted and incorruptible source ofspiritual life to men.In 1968 the Universal House of Justice took action to providefor the future carrying out of the specific functions of protectionand propagation vested in the Hands of the Cause, by theestablishment of Continental Board of Counsellors. Each Boardconsists of a number of Counsellors appointed by the UniversalHouse of Justice, and they work in close collaboration with theHands of the Cause of God. The appointment and direction ofAuxiliary Boards is now the duty of the Boards of Counsellors,and the activities of the Hands, of whom fourteen are still living,have been extended to be worldwide. In June 1973 the UniversalHouse of Justice established in the Holy Land an InternationalTeaching Centre and assigned it the activities of the ContinentalBoard of Counsellors and as liaison between them and theUniversal House of Justice.The Guardian had written of future global teaching plans tobe carried out under the direction of the Universal House ofJustice, and the first of these, a Nine Year Plan, was launched