He feels that what the German Bahá'ís need-and must
have-more than anything else in the world is a far deeper understanding of the
Covenants of both Bahá'u'lláh and the Master. This is the rock-foundation
without which no sound super-structure can be built. Neither the
administration, nor the general teaching work of the Cause in Germany, will
progress, or be able to accomplish anything, unless the believers are truly
firm, deep, spiritually convinced Bahá'ís. An intellectual grasp of the
teachings is purely superficial; with the first real test such believers are
shaken from the bough! But once a Bahá'í has the profound conviction of the
authority from God, vested in the Prophet, passed on to the Master, and by Him,
to the Guardians, and which flows out through the assemblies and creates order
based on obedience-once a Bahá'í has this, nothing can shake him.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a
letter dated 11 April 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The Importance of Deepening
Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
