As to whether the materials prepared by the Research
Department constitute the authoritative word of the Universal House of Justice
on a particular subject, as raised in your third question, the House of Justice
indicates that such materials, though prepared at its direction, represent the
views of that Department. While such views are very useful as an aid to
resolving perplexities or gaining an enhanced understanding of the Bahá'í
Teachings, they should never be taken to be in the same category as the elucidations
and clarifications provided by the Universal House of Justice in the exercise
of its assigned functions. However, the House of Justice chooses to convey the
materials prepared by the Research Department to the friends because it wishes
them to be thoughtfully attended to and seriously considered.
(From a letter
dated 22 October, 1996, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to
an individual believer)
