Local Spiritual Assemblies are at the present newly-born
institutions, struggling for the most part to establish themselves both in the
Bahá'í community and in the world. They are as yet only embryos of the majestic
institutions ordained by Bahá'u'lláh in His Writings This is also true of
National Spiritual Assemblies. In the following passage written by the Secretary
of the Guardian on his behalf this point is elucidated:
“The Bahá'í Administration is only the first shaping of what
in future will come to be the social life and laws of community living. As yet
the believers are only just beginning to grasp and practise it properly. So we
must have patience if at times it seems a little self-conscious and rigid in
its workings. It is because we are learning something very difficult but very
wonderful -- how to live together as a community of Bahá'ís, according to the
glorious teachings."
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated July 30, 1972 to the
National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia, July 30, 1972; compilation: 'Lights of
Guidance')
