Belief in world peace is an integral part of the Bahá'í Faith. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Faith, stated in 1890 

"...so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these endless wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." 

His words were recorded by Professor E. G. Browne, of the University of Cambridge, during an interview with Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji in the Holy Land (modern day Israel). In the late 1800's Bahá'u'lláh addressed a series of letters to the major governmental leaders, calling on them to turn back from the arms build-up that was occurring and instead work together for the well-being of not only their own citizens, but all the peoples of the world. He said 

"The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world's Great Peace amongst men." 

Bahá'ís see the United Nations as a step in this direction, and actively support many of its programs all over the world.

World peace is seen as the next stage in the evolution of human affairs on this planet. In 1986 the Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá'í Faith, released a document called "The Promise of World Peace" addressed to the people and leaders of the world. It begins 

"The Great Peace towards which people of good will throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts...and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations....World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is the next stage in the evolution of this planet...Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity's stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth." 

The document goes on to challenge world leaders to convene talks which would lay the foundation for a world peace treaty that would establish the boundaries of all countries, lay down principles underlying the relations between governments, and limit the size of armaments of all governments. The treaty should include provisions for enforcement of the rules in such a way that the violation by one nation would be counteracted by a united effort of all the other nations. These principles were voiced in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the sacred scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith.

In 1912, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh, traveled to the United States and Europe to promote the peaceful teachings of the Faith. He stopped in Lincoln on September 23 to visit William Jennings Bryan, who was also interested in world peace. Unfortunately Mr. Bryan was not at home, but 'Abdu'l-Bahá visited with Mrs. Bryan and signed the guest book. His signature in the guest book and a prayer that He wrote for the Bryans are on display at the Museum of Nebraska History at 15^th and Q St. He was also interviewed by reporters from the two Lincoln newspapers of the time.

Bahá'u'lláh and His son 'Abdu'l-Bahá emphasized that the achievement of peace also depends on many other issues being addressed, among which are: the recognition of the oneness of all humankind, elimination of racial, religious and other prejudices, realization of the equality of women and men, the establishment of a universal auxiliary language to facilitate communication between people of different countries and cultures, and the developing of harmonious relations between followers of all faiths, based on a recognition of the common spiritual foundation of all religions.

Because of these beliefs, Bahá'ís have a positive assurance of a peaceful long-term future for mankind, even though there may be much distressing turmoil in the days immediately ahead. You will find Bahá'ís in every community, including Lincoln, actively working at all levels to build peace little by little, day by day, by addressing these previously mentioned issues.