What the Master desired to protect the friends against was
continual bickering and opinionatedness. A believer can ask the Assembly why
they made a certain decision and politely request them to reconsider. But then
he must leave it at that, and not go on disrupting local affairs through
insisting on his own views. This applies to an Assembly member as well. We all
have a right to our opinions, we are bound to think differently; but a Bahá'í
must accept the majority decision of his Assembly, realizing that acceptance
and harmony--even if a mistake has been made--are the really important things,
and when we serve the Cause properly, in the Bahá'í way, God will right any
wrongs done in the end.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 19 October 1947 written on behalf
of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation of Compilations,
vol. II, The Local Spiritual Assembly)
