“the work of not only this generation, but of many generations to come”

Bahá’u’lláh States that “the purpose for which mortal men have, from utter nothingness, stepped into the realm of being, is that they may work for the betterment of the world and live together in concord and harmony.” He has revealed teachings that make this possible. Building a society that consciously pursues this collective purpose is the work of not only this generation, but of many generations to come, and Bahá’u’lláh’s followers welcome all who labour alongside them in this undertaking.

It means learning how to raise up vibrant, outward-looking communities;
it means those communities learning how to bring about spiritual and material progress;
it means learning how to contribute to the discourses that influence the direction of that progress.
These areas of endeavour are, naturally, familiar ones. Seen from one perspective, they are quite distinct, each having its own characteristics and imperatives.
Yet they all represent ways of awakening the energies latent in the human soul and channelling them towards the betterment of society.
Together, they are means of releasing what the Guardian described as “the society building power” of the Faith.
This inherent power possessed by the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is visible even in the fledgling efforts of a Bahá’í community learning to serve humanity and promote the Word of God.

And though the world society foreshadowed in His Revelation is of course far distant, communities that are earnestly learning to apply His teachings to their social reality abound. How immensely blessed are those souls who, alive to the greatness of this Day and the significance of their actions, strive for the emergence of a society shaped by the divine teachings.

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 31 December, 2021; online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

Happening as of 2021: “places within a cluster where the society-building power of the Faith is at its most visible”

In 2021 we highlighted the possibilities that can be realized when Bahá’í activity becomes prevalent in a place, and although the settings where this has occurred remain relatively modest in number, they are a steadily growing phenomenon. These are specific places within a cluster where the society-building power of the Faith is at its most visible.

Here, the workings of the Plan are becoming embedded in the everyday life of a people in ways that cannot be easily measured or described in their totality.
In their collective efforts and deliberations, the friends in such locations are increasingly occupied with cultivating spaces in which people consult and share knowledge, derived from both science and religion, and find ways to apply that knowledge to
family development,
education,
economic activity,
public health,
and other fundamental processes of community life,
infusing them with a fresh spirit.
Given the far-reaching implications of what is occurring, the term “programme of growth” no longer does full justice to such developments.

Although in other parts of the cluster growth might still be at an early stage, here, where the level of participation in Bahá’í activities is so high, a new reality is coming into view as the Bahá’í community’s relationship with society evolves. Bright horizons beckon.

- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 30 December, 2025; online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

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