Great risks remain ahead: not only must the work the Master,
in His Mercy, gave to the North American friends to do, be accomplished, but a
deeper spirit of love and unity must be cultivated by the believers within
their own communities. The friends themselves are still in many ways
spiritually immature; they must study the teachings more profoundly, and learn
to function as truly mature souls in all their relationships, both within the
Cause and with their fellow-men.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 5 February 1947 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
Teaneck, New Jersey, USA; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The
Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
