Founding of the House of Worship

From Lights of Guidance (to categorize)

Founding of Temple Marks Inception Kingdom of God on Earth

"The founding of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár will mark the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 6, No. 17, 1916, p. 137, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2051)*See also: 1884

Temple Ordained to be Ark to Ride Tidal Wave

"… Divinely-founded Temple ordained to be the Ark destined to ride triumphant the tidal wave of world-encircling calamities and offering sole refuge to storm-tossed sufferers of sinful, steadily sinking civilization…."

(Cablegram from Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, October 23, 1939: Messages to America, p. 30, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2052)

First Institute by the Disciples Was a Temple

"The Mashrak-el-Azcar is the most important matter and the greatest divine institute. Consider how the first institute of His Holiness Moses, after His exodus from Egypt, was the 'Tent of Martyrdom' which He raised and which was the travelling Temple. It was a tent which they pitched in the desert, wherever they abode, and worshipped in it. Likewise, after His Holiness Christ—may the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him!—the first institute by the disciples was a Temple. They planned a church in every country. Consider the Gospel (read it) and the importance of the Mashrak-el-Azcar will become evident."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Vol. III, p. 633, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2053)

Effect on Those Who Built it—Arise for the Service of Temple

"Not only does the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár have an effect upon those who built it but upon the whole world … Whosoever arises for the service of this building shall be assisted with great power from His Supreme Kingdom, and upon him spiritual and heavenly blessings shall descend which shall fill his heart with wonderful consolation and enlighten his eyes by beholding the Glorious and Eternal God."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá’í Year Book, Vol. 1, pp. 60-62, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2054)

Accessories to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár

"The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár and its accessories: When these institutions—college, hospital, hospice, and establishments for the incurables, university for the study of higher sciences and giving post-graduate courses, and other philanthropic buildings—are built, its doors will be open to all the nations and all religions. There will be drawn absolutely no line of demarcation. Its charities will be dispensed irrespective of colour and race. Its gates will be flung wide to mankind; prejudice toward none, love for all. The central building will be devoted to the purpose of prayer and worship. Thus for the first time religion will become harmonized with science and science will be the handmaid of religion, both showering their material and spiritual gifts on all humanity. In this way the people will be lifted out of the quagmires of slothfulness and bigotry."

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Star of the West, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1930, p. 20, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2055)

One of the Most Vital Institutions in the World is the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár

"The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is one of the most vital institutions in the world, and it hath many subsidiary branches. Although it is a House of Worship, it is also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveller's hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies. Every Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is connected with these five things. My hope is that the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár will now be established in America, and that gradually the hospital, the school, the university, the dispensary and the hospice, all functioning according to the most efficient and orderly procedures, will follow. Make these matters known to the beloved of the Lord, so that they will understand how very great is the importance of this 'Dawning-Point of the Remembrance of God.' The Temple is not only a place for worship; rather, in every respect is it complete and whole."

('Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pp. 99-100, Wilmette, 1982 ed., in Lights of Guidance, no. 2056)

The Relationship of an Administrative Building to the Temple is Worship and Service

'As to the question of the relationship of an administrative building to the Temple: This also will have to be defined in future, but whatever the actual form which such relationship may assume, and whatever its details, it should be based on the general principle that these two sets of Bahá’í institutions embody two vital and distinct, yet inseparable aspects of Bahá’í life: worship and service. The central edifice of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, which is exclusively devoted to purpose of worship, represents the spiritual element, and therefore fulfils a primary function in every Bahá’í Community, whereas all other Temple accessories, whether of a strictly administrative, cultural or humanitarian character, are secondary, and come next in importance to the House of Worship itself."

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, January 28, 1939, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2057)