PART V_High Endeavours: Messages to Alaska

Statements on Various Subjects. These statements are extracted from

letters to individual believers. These extracts are not found elsewhere in

this compilation. They are from letters written by the Guardian's

secretary at his specific direction. The arrangement is according to

subject matter.

(81) ALASKA--Important

Your letter to our beloved Guardian was received, dated September 10th,

and he is very happy to welcome you into the service of this glorious

Faith, and especially to see that you are going to serve in Alaska, a

country to which he attaches great importance.

(82) ALASKA--Incorporation of L.S.A. and growth

He was also delighted to hear of the incorporation of Anchorage. The Faith

is certainly going ahead by leaps and bounds in the "barren North"!

(83) ALASKA--Spirit of confidence

He was delighted with all the good news you conveyed of the progress of

the Cause in Alaska, the radio broadcasts, the new believers, and the

spirit of confidence and devotion which animates you all in serving our

precious Faith.

(84) ALASKA--Unity of believers

He was very happy to hear of the unity of the Alaskan Baha'is; they are a

Community particularly dear to his heart, and he hopes that in the years

to come the Cause will make remarkable progress in that land.

(85) ANTI-CHRIST

We do not believe in Anti-Christ in the sense the Christians do. Anyone

who violently and determinedly sought to oppose the Manifestation could be

called an "anti-Christ," such as the Vazir in the Bab's day, Haji Mirza

Aqasi.

(86) CHRIST--RESURRECTION

We do not believe that there was a bodily resurrection after the

crucifixion of Christ, but that there was a time after His ascension when

His disciples perceived spiritually His true greatness and realized He was

eternal in being. This is what has been reported symbolically in the New

Testament and been misunderstood. His eating with His disciples after

resurrection is the same thing.

(87) CHRIST--Virgin Birth

What science calls a virgin birth we do not associate with that of Jesus

Christ, which we believe to have been a miracle and a sign of His

Prophethood. In this matter we are in entire agreement with the most

orthodox church views.

(88) FEAR--Overcoming fear

He will certainly pray that you may entirely over-come your fear-complex.

When you concentrate your thoughts on realizing that you now belong to

Baha'u'llah, are His servant whom He loves and will always help, if you

ask Him to, and that the great spiritual strength of the Cause of God is

behind you for you to draw upon, you will soon see your fears melting

away.

(89) FOOD-Storage

With regard to the storing of food--this is something which the Spiritual

Assembly will have to determine, based on local conditions; and based on

discussions with Local Authorities. The Guardian feels it is not a subject

which can be generally legislated upon.

(90) GOD--Nature of our Knowledge

We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet. We see the

Perfection of God in His Prophets. Time and space are physical things;

God, the Creator, is not a "place" as we conceive of place in physical

terms. God is the Infinite Essence, the Creator. We cannot picture Him or

His state, but if we did, we would be His equals, not His creatures. God

is never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets we see His

Divine characteristics and perfections.

(91) IMMORTALITY--Cause of Happiness

He will pray for the progress and happiness of the soul of your dear

daughter in the invisible, spiritual worlds. He feels your attitude in

this physical separation from her is exemplary, and is causing her great

happiness now.

(92) INVESTMENTS

He leaves such matters as investments, etc., to the discretion of

individuals who are free to consult experts and make their own decisions,

and he feels this applies also to the shares in the prospective oil land

which you asked his advice about.

(93) MANIFESTATIONS--Future Manifestations

The bud, the flower, the fruit are only symbols to convey to us the sense

of the progress being made by man in receiving ever fuller Revelations

from God. In spite of the vast spiritual significance of what Baha'u'llah

has brought to the world we humans have infinite progress to make in the

future. Future Prophets will bring us new laws suitable to our state of

development and continue to educate us on this planet, but they will be

under the shadow of Baha'u'llah for five thousand centuries.

(94) PHOTOGRAPHS--of the Master

There is no objection to your copying pictures of the Master for your

friends, but do not do it on a wholesale scale. He has always preferred

that the friends should have the Master's photo rather than his own.

(95) PRAYER

We cannot know God directly, but only through His Prophets. We can pray to

Him, realizing that through His Prophets we know Him, or we can address

our prayer in thought to Baha'u'llah, not as God, but as the Door to our

knowing God.

(96) PRE-EXISTENCE--of Prophets

The Prophets, unlike us, are pre-existent. The soul of Christ existed in

the spiritual world before His birth in this world. We cannot imagine what

that world is like, so words are inadequate to picture His state of being.

(97) JOSEPH SMITH--Statements in Book of Mormon

As there is nothing specific about Joseph Smith in the teachings, the

Guardian has no statement to make on his position or about the accuracy of

any statement in the Book of Mormon regarding American history or its

peoples. This is a matter for historians to pass upon.

(98) SOUL--Origin

The soul or spirit of the individual comes into being with the conception

of his physical body.

(99) STUDY

Shoghi Effendi advises you to study "Some Answered Questions" and the

"Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" which help you to grasp these questions.

(100) TEACHINGS--Acceleration

The Guardian was very happy to learn that the teaching work in Alaska is

being accelerated. May the momentum being gained, not be lost, but on the

other hand intensified, so the forthcoming National Assembly may have a

wide and strong base.

The world is seeking for a solution for its increasing problems, and if

the friends arise with the dynamic spirit of the Faith, assured of final

victory, many seeking souls will enter the Faith, and find eternal life.

(101) TEACHING--Importance

The more one observes the conditions of the world and the terrible

problems confronting humanity, the more deeply one realizes that the only

remedy is that which Baha'u'llah has brought, and yet, alas, the masses of

the people seem to not yet be aware that the way out of our problems can

only be a divine way, given by something far greater than human

understanding! However, many souls are seriously thinking and seeking, and

the Baha'is must try to bring the knowledge of the teachings to all, so

that those prepared to accept may not be denied the Message.

(102) TEACHING--Participation of Children

He is happy that the children are being attracted. They are the pillars of

the future, and should be trained and encouraged in every way, to learn

the details of the teachings, and how to teach others. For the true source

of existence is the diffusing of Glad Tidings.

(103) TEACHING--Remaining at Post

He would certainly advise you to remain in Alaska and continue to teach

and give the small but devoted Community there your active support.

(104) TEACHING--Teaching Relatives

He would not advise you to in any way force the teachings on your husband,

but rather through prayer, love and example attract his heart to what he

will be forced to see has not only made you a happier person but a better

wife and mother than ever before. It is often most difficult to teach

those nearest to us, but the Guardian will earnestly pray that your

husband and children will join you in serving this wonderful Cause.

APPENDIX

ADDRESSEES

Letters addressed to individuals by letter number. Only letters presented

in their entirety are indicated.

1. Honor Kempton

2. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

3. Honor Kempton

4. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

5. Melba M. Call (King)

6. Janet B. Whitenack (Stout)

56. Honor Kempton

57. Betty Becker

58. Frances L. Wells

59. Melva Pippel

60. Margaret Pirkey

61. Frances L. Wells

62. Margaret Pirkey

63. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

64. Frances L. Wells

65. Robert E. ("Pat") and Georgine Moul

66. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

67. Verne and Janet Stout

68. Margaret Pirkey

69. Edgar Russell

70. Robert E. ("Pat") and Georgine Moul

71. Frances L. Wells

72. Howard J. Brown

73. Rose Perkal (Gates)

74. Mable Amidon

75. Vernon Huffman

76. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

77. Name withheld by request

78. Rose Perkal (Gates)

79. Jenabe and Elaine Caldwell and family

80. Margaret Pirkey and Frances L. Wells

FOOTNOTES

1 All of the messages in this book are numbered sequentially for the

convenience of the reader and as an aid in indexing. The numbers

appear before the date of each letter. The Editors.

2 (Letter No. 1) Honor Kempton was the first Pioneer to Alaska under

the first Seven Year Plan.

3 (Letter No. 2) Janet Whitenack (Stout) was the first person to

enroll in the Faith in Alaska during the first Seven Year Plan.

4 (Letter No. 4) Janet Whitenack (Stout) had secured a school teaching

position in the village of Tuluksak on the Kuskokwim River.

5 (Letter No. 5) Melba Call (King) was the first Eskimo to become a

Baha'i. While she was born and raised in Alaska, she was residing in

New Mexico when she heard of the Faith and became a Baha'i.

6 (Letter No. 17) Based on these directions from the Guardian, the

first Haziratu'l-Quds was purchased inside the City limits at

810-8th Avenue. At that time (1955) the population of Anchorage was

less than 25,000 concentrated around what is now downtown Anchorage.

Following the earthquake in 1964, it was necessary to abandon the

original Haziratu'l-Quds. The property was sold for $20,000 and a

diligent year-long effort was made to find a suitable replacement.

Nothing appropriate could be found inside the city limits within the

price range. Guidance was requested from the Universal House of

Justice. In a letter dated May 11, 1965, they stated the following,

"...we feel that it is more important that you should acquire a

national Haziratu'l-Quds for Alaska without delay. Preferably is

should be within the civic limits of Anchorage but if you cannot

find a suitable building which can be purchased for the $20,000

which you have available, you should look for a location in the

immediate suburbs of Anchorage...."

7 (Letter No. 27) Mrs. Sarah Mary ("Granny") Roberts was 87 years old

when she became a Baha'i.

8 (Letter No. 27) Joyce Anderson Combs was the first Tlingit Indian to

become a Baha'i in Alaska. The first Alaskan Native to become a

Baha'i while living in Alaska was Agnes Parent (Harrison).

9 (Letter No. 29) Joyce Campbell (Baldwin).

10 (Letter No. 35) Martha Brown (Reed).

11 (Letter No. 44) Arthur and Wilma Gregory and Vern and Evelyn

Huffman.

12 (Letter No. 50) This ringstone was given by the Greatest Holy Leaf

to Mrs. Marie Lowell of Santa Barbara, California who gave it to

Frances Wells. Mrs. Wells gave it to the Alaska National Archives.

13 (Letter No. 57) Miss Honor Kempton served in Luxembourg after

leaving Alaska.

14 (Letter No. 57) Miss Dagmar Dole came to Alaska shortly after the

first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed. She pioneered to Europe

and is buried in Switzerland. The Guardian said she was a

"distinguished consecrated pioneer."

15 (Letter No. 69) Seward was opened by the pioneering of the Edgar

Russell family.

16 (Letter No. 70) This letter so encouraged the friends when it was

re-read a year and a half later that it changed attitudes from one

of discouragement to confidence and enthusiasm which resulted in the

formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Ketchikan the

following Ridvan.

17 (Letter No. 76) Janet Johnson (Smith) later became the Secretary of

the Alaska National Spiritual Assembly.

18 (Letter No. 76) The Baha'i Center at Unalaska was dedicated by

Florence Mayberry at the first public meeting in February, 1958.

19 (Letter No. 76) Aleutian Islands.