We should respect the National Spiritual Assembly and the
Local Spiritual Assembly because they are institutions founded by Bahá'u'lláh.
It has nothing to do with personality, but is far above it. It will be a great
day when the friends, on and off the Assemblies, come to fully grasp the fact
that it is not the individuals on an Assembly which is important, but the
Assembly as an institution.
- Shoghi Egffendi (From a letter dated 7 July 1949 written on behalf
of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations,
vol. II, National Spiritual Assembly)
