ʻabdu'l-bahá wrote a series of letters, or tablets, to the followers of the religion in the united states in 1916-1917 suggesting baháʼís take the religion to many places; these letters were compiled together in the book titled tablets of the divine plan but were delayed in being presented in the united states until 1919 — after the end of world war i and the spanish flu. these tablets were translated and presented by mirza ahmad sohrab on april 4, 1919, and published in "star of the west" magazine on december 12, 1919. one tablet says in part: