14 June 1977: To the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States

Dear Bahá’í Friends, 

The Universal House of Justice has asked us to send you the enclosed article for the Bahá’í News concerning a recent martyrdom in Persia.  A photograph of Mr. Rúhu’lláh Taymúrí is also enclosed. 

With loving Bahá’í greetings, 

Department of the Secretariat 

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran has reported that a 37 year old man, Mr. Rúhu’lláh Taymúrí-Muqaddam, a steadfast pioneer for some twenty years in Fádilábád in the Province of Gurgán, has been martyred at the hands of misguided people of that village. Some members of a fanatical element of the area had been plotting against the Faith and had collected money to finance a large-scale attack on the Bahá’ís. In starting the campaign they went to the house of Taymúrí and attacked him and his sister. The blows of a knife and other weapons caused the death of Mr. Taymúrí and serious injury to his younger sister, Miss Parvín  Taymúrí. 

Fortunately the authorities in Iran have arrested the assassins and they now await trial.  At present the area is calm and the Government has the situation under control. 

The National Spiritual Assembly reports that it is confident that this persecution in the cradle of the Faith will attract divine confirmations and will bring new victories to the steadfast and devoted believers in the land of Bahá’u’lláh.  

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice, ‘1963-1986’)

26 May 1977: To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Baha'i friends,

We are gratified that so many pioneers have settled in the territories scheduled under the two pioneer calls of the Five Year Plan.

We have just completed a review of the current status of the Plan in consultation with the International Teaching Centre, and it became obvious that a new pioneer call is needed. A new list of pioneer assignments is enclosed, from which you will see that 462 pioneers must arise to settle in specified territories. These pioneers should proceed to their posts as soon as possible to lend their support to the vital local teaching work, in time to participate in winning the remaining goals and in consolidating the work prior to the conclusion of the Plan.

In view of the difficulties that nationals of certain countries are experiencing in settling in the goal countries assigned to their national community, some adjustments, and in certain cases deletions, have been made in the few unfilled goals. Therefore this pioneer call includes all outstanding goals. Any National Assembly finding that its prior unfilled assignments have not been carried forward should realize that alternative solutions have been found. However, if at the time National Assemblies receive this list some of their prospective pioneers are well advanced in their preparations to proceed to their posts, nothing should be done to prevent their going forward with their plans. We hope that the pioneers already in the field will remain at their posts and that the National Spiritual Assemblies will encourage them, and if necessary provide the means required to enable them to continue their worthy labours in their respective fields of service.

It is our fervent hope and prayer that this new outflow of pioneers will provide a stimulus to the teaching work throughout the world. We realize the heavy commitments that many National Spiritual Assemblies called upon to provide pioneer manpower have in respect to their home-front goals, but in view of the world-wide needs of the Plan, we trust that every effort will be made to respond to this call, and not only pave the way for a triumphal conclusion of the Plan in 1979, but reinforce the efforts now being exerted to lay firm foundations for the spread and development of the precious Faith of God in every land.

With loving Baha'i greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice, ‘1963-1986’)