Join Hands, Work Together and Forgive One Another

When Baha’is build a new House of Worship, everyone is invited. Since Baha’i Temples welcome all people, so does the process of its construction.

Over a thousand people gathered Sunday, 18 June 2017, for the unveiling of the design for the local Baha’i House of Worship in Tanna in the island nation of Vanuatu, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean.

The sounding of the conch shell by members of the Isla Baha’i community on Tanna marked the unveiling of the Temple design. This is a traditional act that signals significant milestones

Hailing from Tanna, neighboring islands, and further afield, participants included government dignitaries, tribal chiefs, and representatives from various religious groups including Yapinap, an indigenous belief system.

During his remarks at the gathering, President of Nikoletan Tanna Island Council of Chiefs, Chief Freeman Nariu Sawaram, emphasized the importance of unity, sharing the analogy of the diverse organs of the human body working together for a common purpose. “We are here today to launch a starting point in a journey by the Baha’i community,” he said. “We have to join hands, work together, and forgive one another. Then we can achieve whatever the whole body requires and build a better Tanna.”

“Unity is a strong powerful force for our nation that will change our society,” said Chief Sawaram in an interview later. “The answer to progress and true development is unity—without this we cannot advance forward. Our people must know this truth.”

Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Daystar of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The One true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.

Exert yourselves that ye may attain this transcendent and most sublime station, the station that can insure the protection and security of all mankind. This goal excelleth every other goal, and this aspiration is the monarch of all aspirations. – Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14.

The event was a collective celebration for the island. Its inhabitants have come to see the Baha’i House of Worship as a sacred space that will belong to all of their people. Plans for the raising of the Temple have been a rallying point for unity with a palpable impact on the sense of comradery and oneness among the island’s population.

Dancers perform the “Unity Drama” and “Unity Dance.”

“Our forefathers predicted that one day the people of the island would unite, work and live together, and consult with each other,” said a prominent tribal leader, Chief Mikim Teinakou. “I see the fulfillment of their vision in this Temple.”

The Chairman of the Yapinap Nasuman Asul Peoples Association spoke about the impact of planning for a Temple in Tanna: “I praise the Baha’i community for this Temple, which will educate us to have respect for the sacred, to stop our disputes over land, and to bring respect and unity to our villages.”

Sunday’s ceremony began with a devotional program that included writings from a number of major faiths and traditions, followed by singing and dancing, and then the unveiling of the Temple design.

Celebrations began in the morning and continued with much joy and excitement through the afternoon, punctuated by prayer, song, and dance.

“The unveiling of the design was amazing,” said a youth from the nearby island of Efate. “It captures the culture of the Tannese people—how humble they are, how beautiful, how respectful, and how happy.”

Another participant remarked, “The unveiling ceremony brought so much joy to my heart that I am certain the transformation that the Temple will bring to our society will be great, so great.”