# Study Guide to "Promoting Entry by Troops"

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> Introduction
> 
> This study guide has been designed to assist individuals in studying a
> statement and a new compilation entitled "Promoting Entry by Troops" prepared
> by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. In its cover
> letter, the Universal House of Justice indicated that these materials were
> intended to assist the National Spiritual Assemblies and all the friends to:
> 
>  understand
>  welcome
>  initiate
>  sustain the process of entry by troops.
> 
> 
> The Universal House of Justice urges the friends "to study this compilation, to
> understand the coherence of its statements, and to use its counsels to lend a
> renewed impetus to the spread of the Faith and the establishment of the
> institutions of the Cause of God."
> 
> The Universal House of Justice is convinced that "entry by troops will soon
> become an established pattern for the growth of the Faith in country after
> country." This is "a phenomenon which the Bahá'í Communities, by
> their own activities, can prepare for and help to bring about."
> 
> Once the process of entry by troops has begun, it can continue. The
> Bahá'í community can expect to witness a steady stream of new
> active believers and a growing maturation of Bahá'í institutions
> if it wisely uses its resources and plans for expansion and consolidation.
> 
> Statement on promoting entry by troops
> 
> This statement prepared by the Research Department of the Universal
> House of Justice helps us to focus our attention on how the Faith grows, what
> spurs on its growth, and how individuals and Assemblies can effectively play a
> part in that process.
> 
> The comments are compiled into four sections. The first covers characteristics
> of growth in the Bahá'í community. The second identifies factors
> contributing to that growth. The third section of the statement identifies
> "specific activities that contribute directly to the process of entry by
> troops." Finally, there are concluding remarks about the forces shaping the
> destiny of the Cause and the immediate challenge facing the believers.
> 
> The following questions are presented to stimulate further discussion on the
> issues covered in the statement. They should also help to focus attention on
> the opportunities and challenges in each national community.
> 
> Questions for discussion
> 
> Some characteristics of growth
> 
> Organic growth
> 
> 1.       Why is it natural for the Faith to grow more rapidly in some areas of
> the world than in others?
> 
> 2.       How can a national community best prepare for "universal, rapid and massive
> growth of the Cause"?
> 
> 3.       What are the signs of growth in your own national Bahá'í
> community?
> 
> Dynamics of crisis and victory
> 
> 4.       What does the history of our Faith teach us about the
> relationship between crisis and victory?
> 
> 5.       How did our response to the recent wave of persecutions in
> Írán reflect the maturation of our administrative
> institutions?
> 
> Impact of social decline
> 
> 6.       Why will mankind's suffering influence large numbers of people
> to enter the Cause of God?
> 
> 7.       How should the Bahá'í community respond to this suffering?
> 
> 8.       What are some the spiritual values for which people are searching?
> 
> Emergence from obscurity
> 
> 9.       In what ways has the Bahá'í Faith begun to
> emerge from obscurity in recent years?
> 
> 10.       What kinds of opportunities are presented to the Faith as it emerges from
> obscurity?
> 
> 11.       What are some of the urgent challenges facing the Bahá'í
> community as the Lesser Peace approaches?
> 
> Factors contributing to growth
> 
> 12.       Why does a mere increase in the number of believers not
> necessarily connote progress of the Cause?
> 
> 13.       How does the transformation of souls help to consolidate communities and
> attain new models of life?
> 
> 14.       In what ways can a new model of life be demonstrated?
> 
> Commitment to spiritual
> transformation
> 
> 15.       What is individual spiritual transformation?
> 
> 16.       How does this transformation affect the Bahá'í community?
> 
> 17.       How would you define "the true spirit of teaching"?
> 
> Love and unity
> 
> 18.       Why is love and unity fundamental to attracting large numbers
> of people to the Cause?
> 
> 19.       How can an individual believer express love for the institutions of the
> Faith?
> 
> Universal participation
> 
> 20.       What is a good definition for "universal participation"?
> 
> 21.       What are some ways that a Local Spiritual Assembly can help more believers
> to participate in Bahá'í activities?
> 
> Balance between expansion and
> consolidation
> 
> 22.       Why is consolidation of the community so essential in the
> teaching work?
> 
> 23.       What are some of the benefits of properly consolidating the community?
> 
> Bahá'í community as a
> model
> 
> 24.       In what ways should the Bahá'í community be
> distinctive from the world at large?
> 
> 25.       What are "the potentialities inherent in the administrative system" of the
> Faith?
> 
> 26.       How are we assured that God will assist us in the teaching work?
> 
> Promoting entry by troops
> 
> Strengthening of Spiritual Assemblies
> 
> 27.       Why is strengthening the Local Spiritual Assemblies an important
> task in preparing for entry by troops?
> 
> 28.       How do teaching and administration reinforce each other?
> 
> 29.       In what ways can your Local Spiritual Assembly be strengthened?
> 
> Efficient administration and prompt
> consolidation
> 
> 30.       How can a National Spiritual Assembly establish "an efficient
> teaching structure" in its national community?
> 
> 31.       What are some of the more important administrative principles as they
> relate to teaching?
> 
> 32.       What can a Local Spiritual Assembly do to consolidate large numbers of new
> believers into the community?
> 
> Strategic--flexible teaching plans
> 
> 33.       What are some of the dangers of concentrating our efforts and
> resources on one strata or section of society?
> 
> 34.       How can a national community ensure that its efforts are reaching "all
> sections of society"?
> 
> 35.       What "methods" or "approaches" to teaching are now being used in your
> national community?
> 
> Reaching people of capacity
> 
> 36.       What is a good definition for "people of capacity"?
> 
> 37.       Why is it important to exert special effort in reaching people of
> capacity?
> 
> 38.       What are some methods that a community can adopt to reach people of
> capacity?
> 
> Relating the Faith to contemporary social
> andhumanitarianissues
> 
> 39.       What are some of the current issues facing your country?
> 
> 40.       How do the Bahá'í Teachings address these issues?
> 
> 41.       What can your Bahá'í community do to educate your fellow
> countrymen about the Bahá'í response to those issues?
> 
> Goal-directedbehaviour
> 
> 42.       In what ways can Local Spiritual Assemblies collaborate with
> their National Spiritual Assemblies in achieving the goals of the teaching
> plans?
> 
> 43.       Why is it important to have both teaching organized by institutions and
> teaching initiated by individual believers?
> 
> 44.       What does it mean to "teach not only as intensively as possible but also as
> well as possible"?
> 
> Concluding remarks
> 
> 45.       How is the Great Plan of God shaping the destiny of mankind?
> 
> 46.       What is the role of the Bahá'í community in God's plan?
> 
> COMPILATION ON PROMOTING ENTRY BY TROOPS
> 
> The compilation itself contains 49 extracts from letters
> written by or on behalf of Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice.
> A careful study of these extracts should assist individuals and
> Bahá'í institutions to prepare for and ultimately sustain the
> process of entry by troops. These extracts can answer many of the most
> pressing questions we have about entry by troops.
> 
> The tables on the following pages are intended to assist the reader in finding
> answers to six important questions about teaching and the process of entry by
> troops. These questions are:
>  When will entry by troops take place?
>  What contributes to bringing large numbers of people into the Cause?
>  What are the prerequisites for entry by troops?
>  What is teaching?
>  How can teaching be more effective?
>  Why is consolidation so important?
> 
> 
> The table on page 7 provides selected answers to the first three questions all
> related to the process of entry by troops. Page 8 lists selections from the
> compilation that help us to define both the process and the goal of teaching.
> The tables on pages 9 and 10 identify specific activities or endeavours that
> can improve our teaching. Finally, the question of the relationship between
> expansion and consolidation is covered on page 11.
> 
> The selected extracts in the following tables are not exhaustive, but are
> intended to list some relevant answers to each of the above questions. The
> study guide is not designed to provide the answers to all possible questions
> about teaching or entry by troops. Individuals or study groups can draw up two
> additional tables to formulate their own questions and identify extracts that
> can provide answers to those questions.
> 
> When will entry by troops take place?
> 
> What contributes to bringing large numbers of people into the Cause?
> 
> What are the prerequisites for entry by troops?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No.
> 
> Quotation
> 
> Extract
> 
> 
> 1
> 
> "For
> it is only when the [divine] spirit [of the Cause] has thoroughly permeated the
> world that the people will begin to enter the Faith in large numbers."
> 
> [2]
> 
> 
> 2
> 
> "...
> for only by manifesting the greatness of their love for and patience with each
> other can they [the friends] hope to attract large numbers to their ranks."
> 
> [8]
> 
> 3
> 
> When
> "the people of the world see a shining example set by us
> 
> [9]
> 
> 
> 4
> 
> "Until
> the public sees in the Bahá'í Community a true pattern, in
> action, of something better than it already has, it will not respond to the
> Faith in large numbers."
> 
> [10]
> 
> 
> 5
> 
> When
> "they see in our individual and community life acts, and the atmosphere, that
> bespeak the love of God."
> 
> [11]
> 
> 
> 6
> 
> "...
> the maturity of the Bahá'ís within their Communities, functioning
> according to Bahá'í laws and in the proper spirit of unity
> 
> [12]
> 
> 
> 7
> 
> "...
> the disintegration of society and the suffering it will bring in its wake."
> 
> [13]
> 
> 
> 8
> 
> "When
> the old forms are seen to be hopelessly useless, the people will stir from
> their materialism and spiritual lethargy, and embrace the Faith."
> 
> [13]
> 
> 
> 9
> 
> "...
> the spirit of real love for Bahá'u'lláh, for His Faith and its
> Institutions, and the believers for each other ...."
> 
> [15]
> 
> 10
> 
> "...
> only to the degree that they [the Bahá'ís] mirror forth in their
> joint lives the exalted standards of the Faith will they attract the masses to
> the Cause of God."
> 
> [16]
> 
> 11
> 
> "The
> Bahá'ís know that the tide will turn and come in, after mankind
> has suffered, with mighty waves of faith and devotion."
> 
> [19]
> 
> 12
> 
> "When
> the true spirit of teaching, which calls for complete dedication, consecration
> to the, noble mission, and living the life, is fulfilled, not only by the
> individuals, but by the Assemblies also, then the Faith will grow by leaps and
> bounds."
> 
> [20]
> 
> 13
> 
> "Universal
> participation and constant action.
> 
> [24]
> 
> 14
> 
> Strengthening
> and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies is a vital objective. ...
> Success in this one goal ... will heighten the capacity of the Faith to deal
> with entry by troops ...
> 
> [30]
> 
> 
> What
> is teaching?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No.
> 
> Quotation
> 
> Extract
> 
> 
> 1
> 
> "Action
> inspired by confidence in the ultimate triumph of the Faith ..."
> 
> [5]
> 
> 
> 2
> 
> "Dear
> Mr and Mrs ___ have a great ability for kindling in the hearts the love of God."
> 
> [11]
> 
> 
> 3
> 
> "Above
> all, the Healing Message must ... be vividly, systematically brought to the
> attention of the masses ..."
> 
> [12]
> 
> 
> 4
> 
> "...
> Bahá'u'lláh's valiant Knights ... are vying with each other for
> the spiritual conquest of the unsurrendered territories and islands on the
> surface of the globe."
> 
> [18]
> 
> 
> 5
> 
> "...
> the vital process of individual conversion for which the entire machinery of
> the Administrative Order has been primarily and so laboriously erected."
> 
> [22]
> 
> 
> 6
> 
> "Expansion
> and consolidation are twin processes that must go hand in hand."
> 
> [23]
> 
> 
> 7
> 
> "The
> paramount goal of the teaching work at the present time is to carry the message
> of Bahá'u'lláh to every stratum of human society and every walk
> of life."
> 
> [26]
> 
> 
> 8
> 
> `Teaching
> the Faith embraces many diverse activities, all of which are vital to success,
> and each of which reinforces the other ..."
> 
> [31]
> 
> 
> 9
> 
> "...
> consolidation is an essential and inseparable element of teaching ..."
> 
> [34]
> 
> 10
> 
> "...
> the paramount purpose of all Bahá'í activity is teaching. All
> that has been done or will be done revolves around this central activity ..."
> 
> [40]
> 
> 11
> 
> "Teaching
> is the food of the spirit: it brings life to unawakened souls and raises the
> new heaven and the new earth ..."
> 
> [40]
> 
> 12
> 
> "It
> is not enough to proclaim the Bahá'í message, essential as that
> is. It is not enough to expand the rolls of Bahá'í membership,
> vital as that is. Souls must be transformed, communities thereby consolidated,
> new models of life thus attained."
> 
> [44]
> 
> 13
> 
> "Our
> primary response must be to teach--to teach ourselves and to teach others at
> all levels of society, by all possible means, and without further delay."
> 
> [44]
> 
> 14
> 
> "A
> unity in diversity of actions is called for, a condition in which different
> individuals will concentrate on different activities ... because each person
> cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing."
> 
> [45]
> 
> 
> How
> can teaching be more effective?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No.
> 
> Quotation
> 
> Extract
> 
> 
> 1
> 
> "Above
> all, the Healing Message must ... be vividly, systematically brought to the
> attention of the masses, in their hour of grief, misery and confusion."
> 
> [12]
> 
> 
> 2
> 
> BY:
>  "A more audacious assertion of the challenging verities of the Faith"
>  "a more convincing presentation of its distinguishing truths"
>  "a fuller exposition of the character, the aims, and the achievements of
> its rising Administrative system ..."
>  "a more direct and intimate contact and association with the leaders of
> public thought whose activities and aims are akin to the teachings of
> Bahá'u'lláh ..."
>   "a more determined effort to exploit ... the talents and abilities of the
> rank and file of the believers ..."
> 
> [12]
> 
> 
> 3
> 
> "Let
> them put more effort into perfecting their purely Bahá'í
> relationships, become more united, more spiritually educated, more skilled in
> fulfilling their administrative tasks ..."
> 
> [14]
> 
> 
> 4
> 
> "...
> how unwise it is to solely concentrate on one section of the population ..."
> 
> [23]
> 
> 
> 5
> 
> "Expansion
> and consolidation are twin processes that must go hand in hand. ... Deepening
> the newly enrolled believers generates tremendous stimulus which results in
> further expansion."
> 
> [23]
> 
> 
> 6
> 
> "From
> among the believers native to each country, competent travelling teachers must
> be selected arid teaching projects worked out ..."
> 
> [25]
> 
> 
> 7
> 
> "The
> same presentation of the teachings will not appeal to everybody; the method of
> expression and the approach must be varied in accordance with the outlook arid
> the interests of the hearer."
> 
> [26]
> 
> 
> 8
> 
> "...
> it is the purity of heart, detachment, uprightness, devotion and love of the
> teacher that attracts the divine confirmations and enables him ... to win the
> hearts of his fellowmen to the Cause of God."
> 
> [26]
> 
> 
> 9
> 
> "Efforts
> to reach the minorities should be increased and broadened to include all
> minority groups ..."
> 
> [29]
> 
> 10
> 
> "Strengthening
> and development of Local Spiritual Assemblies is a vital objective. ...
> Success in this one goal ... will heighten the Capacity of the Faith to deal
> with entry by troops ..."
> 
> [30]
> 
> 11
> 
> "Teaching
> the Faith embraces many diverse activities, all of which are vital to success,
> and each of which reinforces the other ..."
> 
> [31]
> 
> 12
> 
> "If
> the friends will but persist in their efforts, the cumulative effect of years
> of work will suddenly appear."
> 
> [33]
> 
> 
> 
> 13
> 
> "...
> your Assembly ... should do everything in its power to ensure that increasing
> numbers of native believers are deepened in the verities of the Faith and
> encouraged to teach not only through the means recently opened to them, but
> through the variety of approaches which are possible in different parts of the
> country and among different strata of ... society."
> 
> [37]
> 
> 14
> 
> "While
> taking the fullest advantage of a workable method in one area, the friends
> should be open to other methods and not blindly insist upon doing the same
> thing everywhere. If such flexibility is understood, your community will
> surely grow in numbers and strength."
> 
> [37]
> 
> 15
> 
> "Every
> individual believer ... is summoned to this field of action; for it is on the
> initiative, the resolute will of the individual to teach and to serve, that the
> success of the entire community depends."
> 
> [40]
> 
> 16
> 
> "Well-grounded
> in the mighty Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh, sustained by daily prayer
> and reading of the Holy Word, strengthened by a continual striving to obtain a
> deeper understanding of the divine Teachings, illumined by a constant endeavour
> to relate these Teachings to current issues, nourished by observance of the
> laws and principles of His wondrous World Order, every individual can attain
> increasing measures of success in teaching."
> 
> [40]
> 
> 17
> 
> "The
> key to the conversion of people to the Faith is the action of the individual
> Bahá'í conveying the spark of faith to individual seekers,
> answering their questions and deepening their understanding of the Teachings."
> 
> [43]
> 
> 18
> 
> "A
> unity in diversity of actions is called for, a condition in which different
> individuals will concentrate on different activities ... because each person
> cannot do everything and all persons cannot do the same thing."
> 
> [45]
> 
> 19
> 
> "...
> there is another category of diversity which must be built up and without which
> the Cause will not be able adequately to meet the challenges being thrust upon
> it. Its membership, regardless of ethnic variety, needs now to embrace
> increasing numbers of people of capacity. ... Enrolling significant numbers of
> such persons is an indispensable aspect of teaching the masses ..."
> 
> [45]
> 
> 20
> 
> "...
> the mutuality of teaching and administration must be fully understood arid
> widely for each reinforces the other."
> 
> [48]
> 
> 21
> 
> "Deepening
> the knowledge of the new believer in the verities of the Faith is the most
> vital part of teaching; but deepening is not merely the imparting of
> knowledge--it requires also to imbue the soul of the person with the love of
> Bahá'u'lláh so that his faith may grow day by day and tie becomes
> a steadfast believer."
> 
> [49]
> 
> 
> Why
> is consolidation important?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> No.
> 
> Quotation
> 
> Extract
> 
> 1
> 
> "...
> each National Assembly must ever bear in mind that expansion and consolidation
> are inseparable processes that must go hand in hand ..."
> 
> [25]
> 
> 2
> 
> "This
> teaching work must include prompt, thorough and continuing consolidation so
> that all victories will be safeguarded ..."
> 
> [32]
> 
> 3
> 
> "It
> should be pointed out that, especially if they [the travelling teachers] are
> assigned to expansion work, they must remember that consolidation is an
> essential and inseparable element of teaching ..."
> 
> [34]
> 
> 4
> 
> "Consolidation
> is as vital a part of the teaching work as expansion."
> 
> [35]
> 
> 5
> 
> "Proper
> consolidation is essential to the preservation of the spiritual health of the
> community, to the protection of its interests, to the upholding of its good
> name, and ultimately to the continuation of the work of the expansion itself."
> 
> [35]
> 
> 6
> 
> "Deepening
> the knowledge of the new believer in the verities of the Faith is the most
> Vital part of teaching; but deepening is not merely the imparting of
> knowledge--it requires also to imbue the soul of the person with the love of
> Bahá'u'lláh so that his faith may grow day by day and he becomes
> a steadfast believer."
> 
> [49]
> 
> 
> 
> OVERVIEW
> OF THE ENTRY BY TROOPS DOCUMENT OF THE HOUSE OF JUSTICE
> 
> EXTERNAL FACTORS ASSISTING OCCURRENCE OF ENTRY BY TROOPS.
> 
> 1.       Organic growth of the Faith, it grows in bursts.
> 
> 2.       The operation of the principle of Crisis and then Victory.
> 
> 3.       Social decline as the old world order gets worse the new world order becomes
> the obvious way and attracts people to the Faith.
> 
> 4.       Emergence of the Faith from obscurity--many people now know of the Faith
> through crisis in Írán and other problems. We are a larger
> community of people now.
> 
> GROWTH FACTORS ASSISTING OCCURRENCE OF ENTRY BY TROOPS
> 
> 1.       Spiritual transformation of us as Bahá'ís. Following
> his teachings and laws. Obeying the institutions.
> 
> 2.       Love and unity in the Bahá'í community--most important.
> 
> 3.       Universal participation--everyone doing something for the Faith.
> 
> 4.       Balance between expansion (teaching) and consolidation (deepening). Both
> processes go together in unity of action.
> 
> 5.       Bahá'í community being a model for people to follow.
> 
> SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTING DIRECTLY TO THE PROCESS.
> 
> 1       Strengthening the Local Assemblies--having them meet regularly hold
> children and women's classes, Feast and Holy Days etc.
> 
> 2.       Efficient administration and prompt consolidation. The National and local
> Assembly must be quick and effective in their work.
> 
> 3.       Strategic teaching plans. These are well thought out plans having follow up
> and perseverance into the future. Example--have we followed up the `Ocean of
> Light Project'.
> 
> 4       Reaching People of Capacity. The leaders and ordinary people who have
> influence in a society.
> 
> 5.       Relating the Faith to social and humanitarian issues in the community. The
> Faith helping people and communities improve their lives, etc.
> Bahá'ís need to inspire education and health projects, and
> economic development.
> 
> 6.       Goal directed behaviour. Develop and follow plans such as the three year
> plan. Each Bahá'í needs daily, weekly and monthly goals,
> teaching plans, to live the life, etc.
>
> — *Study Guide to "Promoting Entry by Troops" (Used by permission of the curator)*