National Baha'i Council of the United States
BOX 3201
Roswell, NM 88201-3201.

That the Bab was an independent Manifestation of God Who inaugurated the Bahá'í Era in 1844 and the Precursor of Bahá'u'lláh--"He Whom God will make manifest."

That Bahá'u'lláh, the Author of the Bahá'í Revelation, is the "Promise of All Ages," and the Supreme Manifestation.

That `Abdu'l-Bahá, the eldest Son of Bahá'u'lláh, is the appointed Center of His Covenant with the Bahá'ís, the sole Interpreter of His Holy Word, the perfect Exemplar of the Faith and the Author of a divinely-conceived Will and Testament whose immutable provisions constitute the Charter of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh for as long as His Dispensation shall endure.

That Shoghi Effendi was the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, appointed by `Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, the designated Interpreter of the revealed Word of Bahá'u'lláh, the permanent and sacred head of the Universal House of Justice described in that Testament and the one towards whom all Bahá'ís were enjoined to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination in matters of the Faith.

That Shoghi Effendi appointed his successor "in his own life-time" as he was enjoined to do by the provisions of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament and the second Guardian of the Faith acceded to the guardianship coincident with the passing of Shoghi Effendi.

That Joel Bray Marangella is the third and living Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith appointed by the second Guardian "in his own life-time" in accordance with the explicit instructions of the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá and the one to whom all Bahá'ís faithful to the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh and the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá must turn as the "Center of the Cause."