It is very unfortunate that some of the believers do not
seem to grasp the fact that the administrative order, the Local and National
Assemblies, are the pattern for the future, however inadequate they may
sometimes seem. We must obey and support these bodies, for this is the Bahá'í
law. Until we learn to do this we cannot make real progress....
The Bahá'í are far from perfect, as individuals or when they
serve on elected bodies, but the system of Bahá'u'lláh is perfect and gradually
the believers will mature and the system will work better....
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter
dated 1 November 1950 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Issues Concerning
Community Functioning)
