Portrayals of Holy Figures - 3 December 1972

With reference to your question whether the Figures of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh should be made to appear as characters in dramatic works written by the believers, Shoghi Effendi's opinion is that such an attempt to dramatize the Manifestations would be highly disrespectful, and hence should be avoided by the friends, even in the case of the Master. Besides it would be practically impossible to carry out such a plan faithfully, and in a dignified and befitting manner. (Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, January 27, 1935, in Bahá'í News, #90, March 1935)

However, there can be no objection to symbolic representation of such Holy Figures, provided it does not become a ritual and that the symbol used is not irreverent. (Letter from the Universal House of Justice, dated December 3, 1972; Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

When parents of a youth who has accepted Baha’u’llah, oppose his/her withdrawal from the Church - 6 November 1972

We fully appreciate the problem, posed in the case of youth who accept Bahá'u'lláh but whose parents strongly oppose their withdrawal from the Church. In such cases where the parents oppose their withdrawal and insistence upon it by the youth would undermine the unity of the family it is permissible for the withdrawal to be postponed until the youth attains the age of 21. This would not, of course, in any way affect his acceptance into the Bahá'í community. As you mention, this is the very time at which such a newly-declared believer needs all the deepening and confirmation he can receive. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 6 November 1972; Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

Use of the Persian writings of the Guardian during the devotional portion of Nineteen Day Feasts - 15 October 1972

Concerning the permissibility of reading selections from the writings of the beloved Guardian at Nineteen Day Feasts in Persia: it is true, as you rightly point out, that the beloved Guardian in a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States stated that only the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá should be read during the devotional part of the Nineteen Day Feast...

... it should be borne in mind that the Persian writings of Shoghi Effendi are unique in nature, and many of them, unlike his English letters and messages addressed to the western believers, are interspersed with supplications, prayers and homilies of a devotional character which are suitable for the spiritual part of Bahá'í Feasts. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From letter dated 15 October 1972 to an individual believer, October 15, 1972; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Writings of the Guardian at Nineteen Day Feasts – can be used following devotional readings, and not “part of an arranged devotional programme” - 15 October 1972

Concerning the matter of the devotions at Nineteen Day Feasts. We see no contradiction in the three statements of the beloved Guardian. In essence they all describe exactly the same procedure, namely, that the Feast is opened with devotional readings, that is to say prayers and meditations, from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb and the Master. Following this passages may be read from other Tablets, from the Holy Scriptures of previous Dispensations, and from the writings of the Guardian. It is clear, however, that the beloved Guardian would not wish his own words to be read as part of an arranged devotional programme in which they would be interspersed among words of Holy Scripture. In other words, at the Nineteen Day Feast, where words of the Guardian are to be read they should follow any selections from the Scriptures and not be mixed with them. This does not mean, however, that subsequently in the Feast, any of these types of writings may not be read as suitable during the consultation. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From letter dated August 25, 1965 to the Hands of the Cause of God; cited in a letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated October 15, 1972; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“A group… is not an administrative body” - October 31, 1972

A group, of course, is not an administrative body and there is no objection to the members of a group making decisions within their scope on any occasion when all of them happen to be together, even if this should be at a Nineteen Day Feast. The Nineteen Day Feast can only be an official administrative occasion where there is a Local Spiritual Assembly to take charge of it, present reports to the friends, and receive their recommendations. But groups, spontaneous gatherings of the friends, and even isolated believers should certainly remember the day and say prayers together. In the case of a group, it may well hold the Feast in the manner in which a Local Spiritual Assembly would do so, recognizing of course that it has no official administrative standing. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 31 October 1972 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland; The Compilation of Compilations vol. I)

Persian writings of Shoghi Effendi during spiritual part of Bahá'í Feasts - October 15, 1972

Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the Persian writings of Shoghi Effendi are unique in nature, and many of them, unlike his English letters and messages addressed to the western believers, are interspersed with supplications, prayers and homilies of a devotional character which are suitable for the spiritual part of Bahá'í Feasts. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 15 October 1972 to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations vol. I)