How To Recognize The Authentic Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith
How To Recognize The Authentic Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith
After the sudden passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the Hands of the Cause violated the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh when they eliminated the institution of the Guardianship from the Bahá’í Faith. The Covenant-breaking Hands announced to the grieving believers that, “God changed His mind,” and there would be no further guardians. God did not change his mind. The Hands, and their followers, broke the Covenant.
What is the Covenant? The Greater and Lesser Covenant each pertain to the Interpretation of the Word of God. The Greater Covenant represents God’s promise to continually send the Holy Prophets, or Manifestations of God, to interpret the Holy Spirit, which is the Logos, or, Thought of God, for humanity. In this Bahá’í cycle, Bahá’u’lláh gave the world an entire library of Teachings from God to explain His current Plan for the people on earth.
Bahá’u’lláh established the Lesser Covenant when He appointed His Son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to succeed Him in the Kitáb-i’Ahd. As successor to Bahá’u’lláh, He became the Interpreter of His Holy Writings, the Word of God. Subsequently, in His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá creates a Law declaring that the line of appointed Interpreters to succeed Him would fill the institution of the Guardianship. The role of the guardian is to interpret the Sacred Text as the permanent Head of the elected body of legislators forming the Universal House of Justice; he defines the sphere of legislation as a voting member. Shoghi Effendi is named First Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith which is the Cause of God.
Shoghi Effendi, in his role of the guardian, interpreted that the Will and Testament is, with Bahá’u’lláh’s Kitáb-i-Aqdas (the Book of Laws), the charter for the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. In a cablegram dated March 2, 1951, Shoghi Effendi obeyed the Law of the Will and Testament (which insists that the guardian appoint his successor during his lifetime) when he named Charles Mason Remey President of the future Universal House of Justice: the International Bahá’í Council. Bahá’í Law dictates that the Head of the Universal House of Justice is the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. Thus, Charles Mason Remey became the Second Guardian when the world lost Shoghi Effendi.
The Lesser Covenant did not appear out of nowhere. Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed that He ‘ruleth upon the throne of David’. In His system of government Bahá’u’lláh continued God’s ancient Covenant with King David, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your descendants for ever, and build your throne for all generations.” Psalms 89:3&4. God does not break His Covenants and ‘change His mind’. Bahá’u’lláh brought His ancient throne back to the Holy Land, as a prisoner in exile, and made His successors the appointed Interpreters. Genesis 49:10 prophesied that the spiritual Kingdom of God requires a spiritual appointment and that the ruling scepter would depart from the tribe of Judah. “God guideth whom He will to His light…the Kingdom of the Heavens and of the Earth.” Quran, Surah-an-Nur.
When the Hands violated the Covenant, not only did they deprive Bahá’ís of the institution of the Guardianship, they deprived the world of the Kingdom of God on earth. They destroyed the system Revealed by Bahá’u’lláh which is to endure the entire 500,000 year Bahá’í cycle. They destroyed the Plan of God which is the Promised age of peace prayed for universally. God did not preserve His Covenant with David for thousands of years only to change His mind.
Throughout Bahá’í history, individuals have sought to replace the appointed Interpreter either with themselves of with the Universal House of Justice. The Hands achieved both criminal objectives with their violation. They replaced the guardianship with themselves and elected an illegal ‘universal house of justice’. A body with no head is a dead body. The current Bahá’í ‘administration’ is a criminal enterprise and an apostate religion.
Fortunately, when Charles Mason Remey finally realized he was the Second Guardian, he took action. He made his proclamation and declared the Hands and their followers to be Covenant-breakers. His heroic actions preserved the Lesser Covenant, the line of appointed Interpreters, and the ‘sign of God on earth’, according to the Will and Testament. In obedience to the Law of the Will and Testament, Charles Mason Remey forbade his followers from associating with those who, in their ignorance, followed the Hands. He did not wish for the disease of violation to infect the minority who obeyed the command to study the Faith and recognized his guardianship.
If Charles Mason Remey was the Second Guardian, who was his successor, the Third Guardian? One person who was not the successor to Mason Remey was Joel Marangella. Joel was a member of the French National Spiritual Assembly, the only national body to accept Charles Mason Remey’s proclamation. Joel Marangella proclaimed himself to be the guardian during Charles Mason Remey’s lifetime based on a sealed letter from Mason he opened prematurely. There can only be one guardian functioning at a time. The Guardian expelled Joel Marangella from the Faith for his insubordination and hubris when he failed to cease and desist as he was instructed to do. Joel Marangella, and all of his supporters are Covenant-breakers.
Anyone who claims to be the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith through an appointment via Joel Marangella is not the guardian and is making false claims. Moreover, they are Covenant-breakers for rejecting the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh in the person of the authentic appointed Interpreter.
Anyone who claims to be the Guardian as the result of an alleged appointment of Joseph Pepe is not the Guardian. Joseph Pepe was never the guardian, let alone a practicing Bahá’í. His respect for Bahá’ís was meager given the selfishness and disobedience he witnessed. Joseph Pepe directed detached inquirers to the authentic successor of Charles Mason Remey, his adoptive father.
Leland Jensen tried to force Joseph Pepe into the role of the Guardianship, in disobedience to Charles Mason Remey. Leland Jensen was a Covenant-breaker who built a cult following around himself. He claimed to fulfill prophecies which forecasted Bahá’u’lláh, spread false teachings, and attempted to set up his own Bahá’í administration. Anyone who claims to be the guardian through an appointment by Joseph Pepe or Leland Jensen are Covenant-breakers and are not the Guardian. More about Jensen’s unfortunate assertions can be found here: https://proofsforguardian.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-violation-of-bahai-covenant-by.html
Anyone who wants to be the Guardian is not qualified for the position. Charles Mason Remey appointed Donald Harvey to succeed him as the Third Guardian. Donald was a member of the French National Spiritual Assembly who accepted Mason’s guardianship. Donald was obedient, humble, pure of heart, studious, and earnest in his attempt to share the Good News of Bahá’u’lláh’s Kingdom with the world. He regularly broadcast the Sacred Text over the radio and wrote letters to leaders around the world explaining that the Promised Day had arrived.
Donald Harvey appointed his fellow National Spiritual Assembly member to succeed him as Fourth Guardian. There is a significant photograph of three guardians together at the European Teaching Conference held in Stockholm in the Bahá’í World. Jacques Soghomonian was a third generation Bahá’í of Armenian descent who never waivered in his loyalty to the Covenant. He recognized Charles Mason Remey as Second Guardian immediately upon his receipt of the cablegram announcing his appointment to be President of the International Bahá’í Council. In a moment of levity, Jacques Soghomonian remarked to Mason Remey, “The Guardian is quite young!” He was commenting on the fact that Mason became the guardian at the age of 83.
Jacques Soghomonian appointed E.S. Yazdani to be Fifth Guardian and Mr. Yazdani appointed his son, Shahram Na'im Yazdani, to be the Sixth Guardian after him. The Yazdani’s are a Persian family with origins near Shiraz. They are fourth and fifth generation Bahá’ís who reside in Australia due to persistent persecution received by Bahá’ís in Iran. Despite the worldwide violation of the Covenant among the Bahá’ís, they were able to discover the truth and have been loyal to the successors of Bahá’u’lláh, the appointed Interpreters, the continuous line of Guardians. Mr. Yazdani has travelled and written extensively in service to the Covenant. He has made excellent use of the internet to teach the Cause of God.
Today, January 23, 2026/182 B.E., E.S. Yazdani is the sole Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.
Documentation of the appointments of the successive Guardians:
The Appointment of Charles Mason Remy as Second Guardian and the creation of the International Baha'i Council
“Proclaim National Assemblies of East and West weighty epoch-making decision of formation of International Baha'i Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution destined to emerge in fullness of time within precincts beneath shadow of World Spiritual Center of Faith…most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order…first embryonic International Institution, marking its development into officially recognized Baha'i court, it’s transformation into duly elected body its efflorescence into Universal House of Justice…Hail with thankful, joyous heart at long last the constitution of International Council which history will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of Formative Age of Baha'i Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith…ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with ministries of Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Baha'i cycle.” Shoghi Effendi, January 9, 1951 [Cablegram].
“Spiritual and Administrative World Center
Announce to friends of East and West the following: furnishing Mazra'ih, completion of restoration of historic house of Bahá'u'lláh in Acre,[i.e. `Akká] scene of prolonged afflictions sustained by Founder of Faith, as well as supreme crisis suffered by `Abdu'l-Bahá at hands of Covenantbreakers. Greatly enhanced international endowments in Holy Land in twin cities of Acre and Haifa, now include twin Holy Shrines situated on plain of Acre and slope of Mount Carmel; twin Mansions of Bahjí and Mazra'ih, twin historic Houses inhabited by Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá; twin International Archives adjoining the Báb's Sepulcher and the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf; twin Pilgrim Houses, constructed for Oriental and Occidental pilgrims; twin Gardens of Ridván and Firdaws, associated with the memory of the Author of the Bahá'í Dispensation.
Greatly welcome assistance of the newly-formed International Council, particularly its President, Mason Remey, and its Vice-President, Amelia Collins, through contact with authorities designed to spread the fame, consolidate the foundations and widen the scope of influence emanating from the twin spiritual, administrative World Centers permanently fixed in the Holy Land constituting the midmost heart of the entire planet.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, March 2, 1951]” Shoghi Effendi. Messages to the Baha'i World, pp. 8-9.
Appointment of Donald Harvey as Third Guardian
“I, the second Guardian of the Baha'i Faith hereby appoint Donald Harvey at my death to be my successor, the third Guardian of the Faith.
Signed Mason Remey, May 23, 1967.
“P.S. May the spirit of El Abha ever protect this line of spiritual descent from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Center of the Covenant of El Abha. C.M.R.”
Appointment of Jacques Soghomonian as Fourth Guardian
“By this writ in my own handwriting I, Donald Alphonse Harvey, presently residing at 5, rue Lavasier, 75008 Paris, France, and presently being the Third Guardian of the Universal Faith and Revelation of Baha’u’llah until my soul is called from this earth, do appoint and designate Mr. Jacques SOGHOMONIAN, presently residing at 27, place Sebastopol, 13004 Marseille, France, as his successor as Fourth Guardian of the Universal Faith and Revelation of Baha’u’llah. This writ is thus being made by virtue of the Explicit Text of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, in compliance with all prescription found in it.
Rougemont, near Montbard, Co’te d’or, in France, this day of Saturday, November 17, year 1984 AD,
Signed Donald A. Harvey
Third Guardian”
Appointment of E.S. Yazdani as Fifth Guardian
“To all the believers, faithful to the Will and the Covenant of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
On this day, February the tenth 2005, after thinking a lot for the good Cause of the Bahá’i Faith, I have taken the following decisions:
According to the powers, I was confirmed on as the Fourth Guardian and faithful to the Covenant of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, on account of my health problem, I had nominated Kamran Taimouri as my successor as far as the carrying on of the Guardianship was concerned. That was done on November 25th 2003. Today February 10th 2005, I definitely nominate Kamran Taimouri as the Hand of the Cause of God to comfort the structure of the Faith in the USA. I do hope that Kamran Taimouri will accept my decision. Concerning the USA, I nominate Brent Reed, Amy Krueger and Brent Mathieu as the Hands of the Cause of God.
Mrs. Jen Miller, [is appointed] as the coordinator for carrying on [the progress] and growth of the Faith [in the USA].
In faithfulness to the Covenant in its spirit and its letters, do not forget the obedience to the Covenant and the truth that goes with it. This obedience is the main rule for all the Faithful and it will give you Baha’u’llah’s assistance.
Last, but not least, with my intense prayer, here is my supreme and final willing: I indisputably name as my successor Mr. Enayatollah Sarvestani YAZDANI [living at] 2c Hampden Road Pennant Hill, NSW, Australia. He will be the 5th Guardian after my death. As the number of the believers is increasing all over the world, we must set up the Guardianship Funds in accordance with the Covenant. More information will be given in the following letters.
With all my affection and my prayers to all of you,
Faithfully in Al-Abha,
Sincerely yours
Signed
Jacques Soghomonian”
O THOU GLORY OF THE MOST GLORIOUS
Office of Fifth Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith
To all the believers, Servants and handmaids of the Bahá'ì Faith throughout the world: Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! I pray Thee, by Him Who is the Day-Spring of Thy signs and the Manifestation of Thy names, and the Treasury of Thine inspiration, and the Repository of Thy wisdom, to send upon Thy loved ones that which will enable them to cleave steadfastly to Thy Cause, and to recognize Thy unity, and to acknowledge Thy oneness, and to bear witness to Thy divinity. Raise them up, O my God, to such heights that they will recognize in all things the tokens of the power of Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy most august and all-glorious Self. Thou art He, O my Lord, Who doeth what He willeth, and ordaineth what He pleaseth. Every possessor of power is forlorn before the revelations of Thy might, and every fountain of honor becomes abject when confronted by the manifold evidences of Thy great glory. I beseech Thee, by Thyself and by whatsoever is of Thee, to grant that I may help Thy Cause and speak of Thy praise and set my heart on the sanctuary of Thy glory and detach myself from all that pertaineth not unto Thee. No God is there beside Thee, the God of power, the God of glory and wisdom.
Bahá'u'lláh
By this writ, I, Enayatollah Sarvestani Yazdani, currently residing at 1385 Old Northern Road, Middle Dural, New South Wales, Post Code 2158, Australia, currently being Fifth Guardian of the Baha'i Faith until my soul is called from this contingent world, do appoint and designate Mr Shahram Na'im Yazdani presently residing at Unit 115/23 Porter Street, Ryde, New South Wales, Post Code 2112, Australia, as his successor as Sixth Guardian of the Bahá'ì Faith after his death.
This writ is thus being made by virtue of the explicit text of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l- Bahá in accordance with all directions found in it.
No one has any right to change any part of this writ except the present Guardian of the Faith, Enayatollah Sarvestani Yazdani.
This writ is made in three original copies. One Copy is kept with my solicitor Mr. Craig Doyle, Principal/Notary Public at McDonald Johnson Lawyers at Level 1, 200 Union Street, The Junction, New South Wales, Post Code 2291, Australia. One Copy is kept in my safe at my place of resident and one copy is kept with Mr Shahram Na'im Yazdani, my appointed successor, currently residing at Unit 115/23 Porter Street, New South Wales, Post Code 2112, Australia.
This writ is made on this day, Thursday, 24th July,, 2025 at McDonald Johnson Lawyers, at Level 1, 200 Union Street, The Junction, NSW, Post Code 2291, Australia.
E.S. Yazdani
Fifth Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith
Sydney, 24th July 2025
Duly executed in my presence
CRAIG DOYLE
Notary Public CRAIG DOYLE
NOTARY PUBLIC
200 UNION STREET
THE JUNCTION 2291
AUSTRALIA
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