The Bahá'í administration is only the first shaping of what
in future will come to be the social life and laws of community living. As yet
the believers are only first beginning to grasp and practice it at times it
seems a little self-conscious and rigid in its workings. It is because we are
learning something very difficult but very wonderful -- how to live together as
a community of Bahá'ís according to the glorious teachings.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi quoted by the Universal House of Justice to
the National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia, July 30, 1972; compilation: Lights
of Guidance)
