Baha’is are “warned in the strongest terms against reading” the writings of Covenant-breakers - 29 October 1974

To read the writings of Covenant-breakers is not forbidden to the believers and does not constitute in itself an act of Covenant-breaking. Indeed, some of the Bahá'ís have the unpleasant duty to read such literature as part of their responsibilities for protecting the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. However, the friends are warned in the strongest terms against reading such literature because Covenant-breaking is a spiritual poison and the calumnies and distortions of the truth which the Covenant-breakers give out are such that they can undermine the faith of the believer and plant the seeds of doubt unless he is fore-armed with an unshakable belief in Bahá'u'lláh and His Covenant and a knowledge of the true facts. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated October 29, 1974; compilation: Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)

Burial laws and death at sea - 7 October 1974

The laws of burial as revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas do not refer to occurrence of death at sea. Until such time as the Universal House of Justice legislates on these matters, the friends when faced with such incidents should be guided by whatever civil or maritime law is applicable under the circumstances. Should land be reached, however, obviously the body must be buried on land in the nearest suitable place." 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, quoted in a letter dated 7 October 1974 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

Who is a pioneer & the duty to teach - 22 September 1974

Whether a Bahá'í is in a place because he pioneered there or has settled there for some other reason, does not affect the duty of teaching and serving the Cause laid upon him by Bahá'u'lláh. Generally, a person who goes to a country expressly as a pioneer should be counted as such. There are also many who, although they go primarily for some other purpose, nevertheless fill a goal or are very active in the service of the Faith, and there is no reason not to record them as pioneers in your files. The decision whether to consider a person as a pioneer for the purposes of your records must be made in each individual case. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter from the Universal House of Justice to a Continental Pioneer Committee, September 22, 1974; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)

“civil divorce before the end of the year of waiting” - 20 August 1974

There is no Bahá'í law requiring the removal of voting rights for obtaining a civil divorce before the end of the year of waiting. It is, of course, preferred that civil divorce action not be instituted or completed before the end of the year unless there are special circumstances justifying such action. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated August 20, 1974, to a National Spiritual Assembly; compilation: Developing Distinctive Baha’i Communities, NSA of USA, 1998 edition)