Messages to Canada

  • Author:

  • Shoghi Effendi

  • Source:
  • Bahá’í Canada Publications
  • Pages:
  • 276
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Pages 94-95

Letter of 20 April 1947

20 April 1947

To an individual believer

Dear Bahá’í Brother:
Your letter dated February 7th was received and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
Since you have turned to him for advice he will give it to you quite frankly: he feels that, now that Canada is so soon to have her own National Spiritual Assembly, you should remain in the Dominion and serve there. There are so few Canadian Bahá’ís, relatively speaking, and they are scattered over such a vast territory, that to lose such an active worker as yourself would constitute a weakening of their forces. Where you serve he feels is up to you to decide; no doubt in Eastern Canada the need for help is greatest, but you should make your own choice.
It is very difficult to know what choices to make in life, and they are always conditioned by our own state of spiritual advancement; what would constitute an impossible sacrifice for one soul would seem to another a very small step to take!
There is certainly no reason why you should not go through life with a companion; Bahá’u’lláh strongly upholds the institution of marriage, and it need not hinder the service of an active Bahá’í if he married the right person. He assures you he deeply values your devotion and loyalty to the Faith and your readiness to put all personal desires aside in order to serve it. You may be sure his most loving prayers will be offered for your guidance, success and your happiness.

With Bahá’í love,

R. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

May the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh sustain, guide, and bless you at all times and under all conditions, and aid you to render inestimable services to the Faith in Canada, and lend a tremendous impetus to its growth and the multiplication and consolidation of its nascent institutions,

Your true and grateful brother,

Shoghi