Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand

"Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand" by Shoghi Effendi is a collection of correspondence written in the early to mid-20th century. The letters reflect Shoghi Effendi's guidance and encouragement to the Bahá'í communities in Australia and New Zealand as they develop their faith and administrative structures. The main topics discussed include the growth of the Bahá'í community, administrative matters, spiritual insights, and responses to challenges faced by the believers in these regions. The opening portion of the collection begins with a letter dated December 2, 1923, in which Shoghi Effendi expresses his heartfelt desire to strengthen the bonds of unity among the Bahá'ís after a period of turmoil following the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. He acknowledges the difficulties faced by the community while emphasizing the importance of faith and collective action in overcoming challenges. The theme of perseverance and the necessity of engaging actively in the service of the Cause is reiterated throughout subsequent letters. Effendi's role as a guiding force is evident as he encourages believers to embrace their responsibilities and remain steadfast in their dedication to the Bahá'í teachings amid the complexities of their time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Shoghí Effendi (; Persian: شوقی افندی; 1 March 1897 – 4 November 1957) was an Ottoman-born Iranian religious figure and the Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith from 1921 to 1957. As the grandson and successor of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, he was responsible for creating a series of teaching plans that oversaw the expansion of the Baháʼí Faith to a number of new countries, and also translated many of the written works of crucial Baháʼí leaders. Upon his death in 1957, the Hands of the Cause, which included his Canadian wife Rúhíyyih Khánum, took on the role of overseeing the transfer of the religion's supreme legal authority to the Universal House of Justice, which has held elections every five years since 1963.