The Golden Age
J. E. Esslemont, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era, (1923) · Read original
Studio narration for this story is coming — it’ll be generated by the cloud-TTS pipeline (voice: auto-selected from the source author).
When in Bahá'í history
Bahá’u’lláh gives the assurance that, through harmonious cooperation of patients, healers and the community in general, and by appropriate use of the various means to health, material, mental and spiritual, the Golden Age may be realized, when, by the Power of God, “all sorrow will be turned into joy, and all disease into health.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that “when the Divine Message is understood, all troubles will vanish.” Again He says:—
When the material world and the divine world are well correlated, when the hearts become heavenly and the aspirations pure, perfect connection shall take place. Then shall this power produce a perfect manifestation. Physical and spiritual diseases will then receive absolute healing.
Source: J. E. Esslemont, Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era (1923). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19241.
Discuss this story
For adults
- Where do joy and patience meet in this story?
- How does this story illustrate the practice of joy?
- What stands out about J. E. Esslemont's response in this account?
For teens
- If you were in J. E. Esslemont's place, what might you have done?
- What does this story teach about joy?
Reflection
- Is there someone in your life who would be helped by hearing this story?
- Where in your own life are you being asked to practice joy?
- Read the passage a second time, slowly. What did you notice that you missed the first time?
Comprehension quiz
Which source is "The Golden Age" drawn from?
What period of Bahá'í history does this story belong to?
Which historical figure is featured most prominently in this story?
Which virtue does this story most clearly illustrate?
Cite this story
Esslemont, J. E.. (1923). *Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era*. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19241/pg19241-images.html
Record yourself reading this story
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