The greatest need of
all peoples is for the Faith itself, so that they may know the destiny towards
which they as individuals and as members of society must strive, and will learn
from the teachings those virtues and methods which will enable them to work
together in harmony, forbearance and trustworthiness ... The principle remains,
however, that the spiritual precedes the material. First comes the illumination
of hearts and minds by the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, and then the grass roots
stirring of the believers wishing to apply these teachings to the daily life of
their community. Such stirrings can be fostered, encouraged and assisted by the
national and continental institutions of the Faith, but without them any
activities introduced from above might well prove abortive.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter
dated 8 May 1984, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a
National Spiritual Assembly; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. III, Social
and Economic Development)
