Appendix C
BAHÁ'Í QUOTES ON YOUTH

"Let there be no delay, then, in the vigor of 
your response...Regardless of the modes of 
service, however, youth must be understood to 
be fully engaged, at all times, in all climes 
and under all conditions."

Universal House of Justice, Jan. 3rd, 1984

"The present conditions of the world--its 
economic instability, social dissensions, 
political dissatisfaction and international 
distrust--should awaken the youth from their 
slumber and make them enquire what the future 
is going to bring. It is surely they who will 
suffer most if some calamity sweep over the 
world. They should therefore open their eyes 
to the existing conditions, study the evil 
forces that are at play and then with a 
concerted effort arise and bring about the 
necessary reforms--reforms that shall 
contain within their scope the spiritual 
as well as social and political phases 
of human life."

Quoted: In Bahá'í International Community, 
Role of Youth in Human Rights

"Young men and women in the Faith must be 
deep and thoughtful scholars of its teachings, 
so that they can teach in a way that will 
convince people that all the problems facing 
them have a remedy. They must grasp the 
Administration, so that they can wisely and 
efficiently administer the ever-growing affairs 
of the Cause; and they must exemplify the Bahá'í 
way of living. All this is not easy--but the 
Guardian is always greatly encouraged to see 
the spirit animating such young believers as 
yourself. He has high hopes of what your 
generation will accomplish."

Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian

"This Cause, although it embraces with equal 
esteem people of all ages, has a special message 
and mission for the youth of your generation. 
It is their charter for their future, their 
hope, their guarantee of better days to come."

Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian

"He urges you to make up your minds to do great, 
great deeds for the Faith; the condition of the 
world is steadily growing worse, and your generation 
must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs 
and administrators of future years. With 
dedication and will power you can rise 
to great heights!"

Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian

"The part of youth is very great; you have the 
opportunity to really determine to exemplify in 
word and deed the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, and 
to show your generation that the New World 
Order He has brought is a tangible reality 
in the lives of His followers."

Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian

"The second is mainly and directly concerned 
with the Bahá'í youth, who can contribute so 
decisively to the virility, the purity, and 
the driving force of the life of the Bahá'í 
community, and upon whom must depend the 
future orientation of its destiny, and the 
complete unfoldment of the potentialities 
with which God has endowed it."

Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice

"The heartwarming upsurge of Bahá'í youth, has 
changed the face of the teaching work; 
impenetrable barriers have been broken 
or overpassed by eager teams of young 
Bahá'ís, dedicated and prayerful, presenting 
the Divine Message in ways acceptable to their 
own generation from which it has spread and 
is spreading throughout the social structure. 
The entire Bahá'í world has been thrilled by 
this development. Having rejected the values 
and standards of the old world, Bahá'í youth 
are eager to learn and adapt themselves to the 
standards of Bahá'u'lláh and so to offer the 
Divine Programme to fill the gap left by the 
abandonment of the old order."

The Universal House of Justice, Ridván 1973


"The world that Bahá'í youth are inheriting 
is one in which the distribution of educational, 
economic and other basic opportunities is 
grossly unjust. Bahá'í youth must not be 
daunted by such barriers. Their challenge is 
to understand the real condition of humanity 
and to forge among themselves enduring spiritual 
bonds that free them not only from racial and 
national divisions but also from those created 
by social and material conditions, and that 
will fit them to carry forward the great 
trust reposed in them."

The Universal House of Justice, May 24, 2001