In the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith,
in the enactment of the legislation necessary to supplement the laws of the
Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the members of the Universal House of Justice, it should be
borne in mind, are not, as Bahá'u'lláh's utterances clearly imply, responsible
to those whom they represent, nor are they allowed to be governed by the
feelings, the general opinion, and even the convictions of the mass of the
faithful, or of those who directly elect them. They are to follow, in a prayerful
attitude, the dictates and promptings of their conscience. They may, indeed
they must, acquaint themselves with the conditions prevailing among the
community, must weigh dispassionately in their minds the merits of any case
presented for their consideration, but must reserve for themselves the right of
an unfettered decision. "God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He
willeth," is Bahá'u'lláh's incontrovertible assurance. They, and not the
body of those who either directly or indirectly elect them, have thus been made
the recipients of the divine guidance which is at once the life-blood and
ultimate safeguard of this Revelation....
(Shoghi Effendi, from a letter
of 8 February 1934, published in "The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh -
Selected Letters"; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The Covenant)
