The Assemblies have been established to administer the
affairs of the Cause with authority. The believers have the right to vote for
whoever they please. If they do not like their Assembly's acts, they must, for
the sake of the unity of the Faith, abide by its decisions. The individual has
the right to make suggestions, to protest, but he has no rights over the
Assembly; his force is his vote. If one of the friends is dissatisfied over the
local situation he should nevertheless co-operate with his Spiritual Assembly
and do all he can to help it. He can pray for it, he can show through his own
deeds a noble Bahá'í example. The system is perfect, but if the instruments are
imperfect we must still uphold the system, knowing God will watch over and
protect His Cause, and that such conditions are only temporary and will pass
away as the Cause grows and the Bahá'ís mature.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 14
November 1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Issues Concerning Community Functioning)
