# Spiritual Institutions: The Foundation for Oneness

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> Table of Contents:
> 
> 
>           For a fully illustrated 
> copy of this booklet
> (with lovely photos throughout), contact the 
> U.S. Bahá'í Distribution Service at 1-800-999-9019 
> and ask for: (Code - SPIN) Spiritual Institutions: 
> The Unique Nature of Bahá'í Institutions by the National Spiritual 
> Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the U.S. Price: $3.50 each (1-9); $3.00 
> (10+) 
>           
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant
> Divine Institutions (and overview)
> 
> Local Spiritual Assemblies
> Regional Bahá'í Councils
> National Spiritual Assemblies
> The Universal House of Justice
> Elections ...Everywhere and a summary of elections
> A Rarified Atmosphere
> Divinely Guided Spiritual Assemblies
> Holding Assembly Elections
> What Do Spiritual Assemblies Do?
> Community Activities
> My Faith
> Bahá'í Consultation: A Shining Light
> Individuals and Institutions
> 
> 
>         
> 
> "He Who is your Lord,
> the All-Merciful, cherisheth
> in His heart the desire of
> beholding the entire human race
> as one soul and one body."
>              — Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 214
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "The history of humanity as one people is now beginning."  We are moving from
> "the exper-ience of tribes, cultures, classes and nations" to the "physical
> unification of the planet." Throughout the world, immense intellectual and
> spiritual energies are seeking expression." Everywhere "the signs multiply that
> the earth's peoples yearn for an end to conflict" and long for "the age-old
> dream of global peace."  We hunger for "a vision of human prosperity in the
> fullest sense of the term."— The Prosperity of Humankind, a statement written
> on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh provided a solution. He has brought us a system for
> organizing and uniting the world in His Administrative Order. This Order is
> radically different from the administrative institutions seen in our modern day
> governments. Only this system of institutions and the unique process for
> electing them can ever hope to organize all the diverse inhabitants of the
> planet into one organic whole.
> 
> The Administrative Order is established on the fundamental truths of the
> Bahá'í Revelation. Its institutions have emerged gradually and
> organically.  As the Bahá'í community has grown, the
> characteristics and functions of each of the institutions have evolved, and are
> still evolving.  This process of gradual change will continue until the World
> Order destined in the Bahá'í Revelation emerges in its full
> splendor.
> 
> "The source from which it derives its inspiration is no one less than
> Bahá'u'lláh Himself. Its shield and defender are the embattled
> hosts of the Abhá Kingdom. Its seed is the blood of no less than twenty
> thousand martyrs who have offered up their lives that it may be born and
> flourish."— Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of
> Bahá'u'lláh, p. 156
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh has provided for the organization of His Faith around
> the world through a net-work of elected institutions. Each community is cared
> for by a Local Spiritual Assembly. Regional Bahá'í Councils serve
> in designated regions. Countries are unified under National Spiritual
> Assemblies. And all the Bahá'ís in the world are connected
> through the loving guidance of the Universal House of Justice.
> 
> "Bahá'u'lláh has drawn the circle of unity.  He has made a design
> for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the
> shelter of the tent of universal unity." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 54
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant
> 
> "A day will come wherein the lights of unity will enlighten all the world."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, p.
> 28
> 
> "Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps . . ."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh's Covenant is unique in that its institutions and
> laws give us a complete blueprint for a divinely ordained world order destined
> to bring the world to unity. " Nowhere in the sacred scriptures of any of the
> world's religions do we find any provisions establishing a covenant or
> providing for an administrative order that can compare in scope and
> authority."
> 
> "This Administrative Order is fundamentally different from anything that any
> Prophet has previously established, inasmuch as Bahá'u'lláh has
> Himself revealed its principles, established its institutions, appointed the
> person to interpret His Word and conferred the necessary authority on the body
> designed to apply His legislative ordinances."
> — Bahá'u'lláh, The World Order of
> Bahá'u'lláh, p. 145
> 
> "The world's equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of
> this most great, this new World Order. Mankind's ordered life hath been
> revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous system — the
> like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed."— Bahá'u'lláh,
> Kitab-i-Aqdás, p. 85
> 
> Divine Institutions
> 
> The institutions of the Faith all spring directly from the Writings of
> Bahá'u'lláh, `Abdu'l-Bahá, His successor and Interpreter,
> and Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian. This divinely re-vealed World Order has two
> types of institutions that encircle the world like twin arms. On the left side
> of the globe are the elected institutions. On the right side are the appointed
> institutions, which guide and encourage elected institutions and draw us all to
> the guidance of God's Word. 
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh, `Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi each
> appointed Hands of the Cause of God.  The Hands have traveled all over the
> world to encourage Bahá'ís in their teaching efforts and help
> them establish communities. The Universal House of Justice appoints the
> Continental Boards of Counselors every five years to serve specific regions of
> the world. The Counselors appoint the Auxiliary Board members, who encourage
> teaching and help to keep the Faith unified and safe from attack. Each Board
> member appoints assistants, who serve local communities. 
> 
> Local communities are composed of individual believers who are like a solid,
> unified founda-tion upon which are built the elected institutions of the Faith.
> Individual believers elect Local Spiritual Assemblies, which later elect
> Regional Councils. The individuals in each area also come together to elect
> delegates, who in turn elect the National Spiritual Assembly. National
> Spiritual Assemblies elect the Universal House of Justice, the supreme
> administrative body for the world.
> 
> The elected institutions function as consultative bodies of nine individuals.
> No one person has special authority over another. The elected institutions have
> the power and authority to administer the affairs of the Faith as a group
> working together in unity.
> 
> 
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh
> Local
> Spiritual Assemblies
> `Abdu'l-Bahá
> Individual
> Believers
> Elected
> Institutions
> The
> Guardianship
> Appointed
> Institutions
> The
> Hands of the Cause of God
> The
> Universal House of Justice
> The
> Continental Boards of Counselors
> National
> Spiritual Assemblies
> The
> Auxiliary Boards and their assistants
> Regional
> Bahá'í Councils
> 
> "From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed,
> are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all
> conditions."— `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80
> 
> 
> Local Spiritual Assemblies
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh, in His Most Holy Book, has stated, "The Lord hath
> ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall
> gather counselors to the number of Bahá." Each Assembly is composed of
> nine individuals elected each year by the local adult believers in every
> community.  At this time these institutions are called Assemblies. In the
> future, as Assemblies mature, they will be called Houses of Justice.
> 
> As explained by the Universal House of Justice, "The divinely ordained
> institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly operates at the first levels of
> human society and is the basic administrative unit of
> Bahá'u'lláh's World Order. It is concerned with individuals and
> families whom it must constantly encourage to unite in a distinctive
> Bahá'í society, vitalized and guarded by the laws, ordinances,
> and principles of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation." Spiritual Assemblies
> are "channels of divine guidance, planners of the teaching work, developers of
> human resources, builders of communities, and loving shepherds of the
> multitudes."
> 
> 
> Regional Bahá'í Councils
> 
> In 1997 the Universal House of Justice stated, "the time has arrived for us to
> formalize a new element of Bahá'í administration, between the
> local and national levels, comprising institutions of a special kind, to be
> designated as `Regional Bahá'í Councils.'
> 
> Regional Bahá'í Councils partake of some, but not all,
> characteristics of Spiritual Assemblies, and thus provide a means of carrying
> forward the teaching work and administering related affairs of a rapidly
> growing Bahá'í community in a number of situations." The main
> task of Regional Bahá'í Councils is to devise and carry out
> expansion and consolidation plans in close collaboration with Local Spiritual
> Assemblies. Regional Bahá'í Councils are composed of nine
> members.  They are elected every year by members of Local Spiritual Assemblies
> in the four regions defined by `Abdu'l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine
> Plan: the Northeastern States, the Southern States, the Central States and the
> Western States. These elections are completed on November 26, the Day of the
> Covenant.
> 
> 
> National Spiritual Assemblies
> 
> When the number of believers in a country grows and reaches a considerable
> size, a National Spiritual Assembly, representative of the friends throughout
> the country, should be established. 
> 
> "Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate . . . the manifold
> activities of the friends as well as the Local Spiritual Assemblies; and by
> keeping in close and constant touch with the Holy Land, initiate measures, and
> direct in general the affairs of the Cause in that country.— Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration,
> p. 39
> 
> The National Spiritual Assembly is elected every year by 171 delegates at a
> National Conven-tion. Each electoral unit around the country has a unit
> convention in the fall for the purpose of electing delegates to the National
> Convention the following spring   The National Spiritual Assembly of the
> Bahá'ís of the United States has its National Center and
> administrative offices in Illinois, near the House of Worship in Wilmette.
> 
> 
> The Universal House of Justice
> 
> In His Tablet of Carmel, Bahá'u'lláh announces, "Ere long will
> God sail His Ark upon thee, and will manifest the people of Bahá who
> have been mentioned in the Book of Names."  With these words He has called into
> being the Universal House of Justice, the Supreme Institution of the
> Bahá'í Faith, with its Seat on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
> 
> The Universal House of Justice, which the Guardian said would be regarded by
> posterity as "the last refuge of a tottering civilization," is the only
> infallibly guided institution in the world. It is described by
> `Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament as "the source of all good and
> freed from all error."
> 
> "The Guardian has in his writings specified for the House of Justice such
> fundamental functions as the formulation of future worldwide teaching plans,
> the conduct of the administrative affairs of the Faith, and the guidance,
> organization, and unification of the affairs of the Cause throughout the
> world."— The Universal House of Justice, Messages from the Universal
> House of Justice, p.  89
> 
> 
> Elections ...Everywhere
> 
> "On the election day the friends must whole-heartedly participate in the
> elections, in unity and amity, turning their hearts to God."— Shoghi Effendi, Letter to the friends in Persia,
> February 27, 1923
> 
> "The evolution of local and national Bahá'í Assemblies at this
> time calls for a new state of mind on the part of their members as well as on
> the part of those who elect them, for the Bahá'í community is
> engaged in an immense historical process that is entering a critical stage."
> We are encouraged by the Universal House of Justice to see the role of the
> individual who elects these institutions as serious and important.  These
> institutions will operate in a World Order design-ed to channel the forces of a
> new civilization. "The electors must prayerfully and devotedly and after
> meditation and reflection elect faithful, sincere, experienced, capable and
> competent souls who are worthy of membership" explains Shoghi Effendi.  "I
> cannot but pray that they may be guided in their choice, and discharge
> honourably their functions."
> 
> "Election to an Assembly, from a Bahá'í point of view, is not a
> right that people are entitled to, or an honor to which they should aspire; it
> is a duty and responsibility to which they may be called. The purpose is that
> those who are elected to an Assembly should be the most worthy for this
> service; this does not and cannot mean that all those who are worthy will be
> elected. It is expected that, through training and experience in the process of
> Bahá'í elections, the members of the electorate will have raised
> their consciousness of their responsibility to vote for only those who satisfy
> the requirements that the Guardian has outlined. They will, therefore, see it
> as their continuing duty to familiarize themselves with the character and
> abilities of those who are active in the community, so that, when the time for
> an election comes, they will already have some idea of the people from among
> whom they must make their choice."— The Universal House of Justice, November 16, 1988, — to the International Teaching Center
> 
> The election of Bahá'í institutions is a sacred responsibility.
> Every adult believer is encouraged to participate.
> 
> Local ElectionsIn April Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected each year on
> the First Day of Ridván.
> 
> Regional Councils
> In November Assemblies meet and their members cast ballots to
> elect Regional Councils.
> 
> Unit Convention
> In October individuals gather in each electoral unit to elect
> delegates to the National Convention the following spring.
> 
> National Convention
> Each spring the delegates from electoral units around the
> country gather at National Convention to elect the National Spiritual
> Assembly.
> 
> International Convention
> Every five years the National Spiritual Assemblies from every
> country travel to Haifa, Israel, to elect the Universal House of Justice.
> 
> 
> 
> "Spiritual Assemblies are . . . heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of
> holiness are diffused over all regions." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
> `Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 80
> 
> 
> A Rarified Atmosphere
> 
> "Every Assembly elected in that rarified atmosphere of selflessness and
> detachment is, in truth, appointed of God."— Shoghi Effendi, Bahá'í Administration, p.
> 65
> 
> 
> 
> Who Best Demonstrates these Qualities?
> 
>                 —   Unquestioned loyalty
>                 —   Selfless devotion
>                 —   A well-trained mind
>                 —   Recognized ability
>                 —   Mature experience
> 
> A Bahá'í election should be a prayerful, joyful, and spiritual
> experience. It is completely different from the methods and practices of
> elections in political systems. Ballots are cast privately and confidentially,
> and no electioneering or nominations are permitted. In a local election
> individual believers have the responsibility to get to know one another and
> find through personal experience who may be best qualified to serve.
> 
> "Consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice the names of only
> those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of
> selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature
> experience," is our guidance from Shoghi Effendi. "Bahá'í electoral procedures and methods have,
> indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer
> of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining
> his full freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an
> active and well-informed member of the Bahá'í community in which he lives."
> 
> Ballots are counted privately, and the names of the nine individuals with the
> most votes are read to those who are gathered. If there is a tie, a member of a
> racial minority is given priority. Elections at every level are handled in a
> similar manner.
> 
> 
>  Divinely Guided Spiritual Assemblies
> 
> "Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the spirit of God. Their defender is
> `Abdu'l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His Wings. What bounty is there greater than
> this?"— `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Local Spiritual Assembly, p. 6
> 
> When the Assembly is in session, it is more than just a group of individuals
> having a meeting. When the hearts of the members turn toward God, they become
> united and the Assembly receives God's guidance. Shoghi Effendi reminds us of
> Bahá'u'lláh's promise that "in every Assembly where unity and
> harmony prevail, there His glorious spirit will animate, sustain and guide all
> the friends in their deliberations."
> 
> "The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive,
> radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine
> Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and
> long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold,"
> explains `Abdu'l-Bahá. 
> 
> "'Abdú'l-Bahá is constantly engaged in ideal communication
> with any Spiritual Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and
> the members of which, in the utmost devotion, turn to the Kingdom and are firm
> in the Covenant. To them He is heartily attached and with them He is united by
> everlasting ties." — `Abdu'l-Bahá, The Local Spiritual
> Assembly, p. 6
> 
> On April 21, 1863, Bahá'u'lláh declared openly that He was the
> Promised One. This day is celebrated as the First Day of Ridván.
> Bahá'u'lláh declared that He was sent by God to show us how to
> build God's Kingdom on Earth.  He taught that the foundation of God's Kingdom
> on earth is the Local Spiritual Assembly.
> 
> On this same day each year, in every corner of the earth, Bahá'ís
> gather in their local com-munities to form a Spiritual Assembly.  People of all
> colors, of all backgrounds, of all income levels come together to vote in
> cities and villages in obedience to God's instructions.
> Bahá'u'lláh has given each of us the opportunity and the
> responsibility to play his or her part in building God's promised Kingdom.
> There is no one else to do this job. Bahá'u'lláh has given us the
> instructions.  It is up to each of us to carry them out.
> 
> This blessed day begins at sunset on April 20 and ends at sunset on April 21.
> Each Bahá'í community decides for itself the exact time that the
> Bahá'ís will gather to form the Assembly. By the end of the day,
> new "heavenly gardens" will have been planted throughout the earth.
> 
> 
> Holding Assembly Elections
> 
> At least two weeks before April 21, all the Bahá'ís in the
> community over the age of 21 should be invited to the gathering where the
> Spiritual Assembly will be elected. Unlike political elections, no one is
> nominated and discussion of names before the election is
> forbidden. God forbid, no one should seek to be elected. We are trying to do
> God's will; not our own. 
> 
> When it is time to vote, our hearts are drawn to God through prayer. In that
> special atmos-here, we write down the names of the nine adults in the community
> whom we feel are the most dedicated and the most qualified. These names are
> written down in secret and given to the persons chosen to count the ballots.
> The ballots are counted privately and the names of the nine with the most votes
> are read to those gathered.  These nine form the new Local Spiritual Assembly
> for that community. They have been called by God to serve with great
> humility.
> 
> Whom should you vote for?   During prayer and while filling out the ballot, who
> comes to your heart?  You might ask yourself: Who do you respect? Who is wise?
> Who serves the community eagerly? Who is teaching the Bahá'í
> Faith? Who goes out of the way to serve others?
> 
> 
> What Do Spiritual Assemblies Do?
> 
> The individual members of the Spiritual Assembly have no power in the
> Bahá'í community.  They are simply servants if God like everyone
> else. But when the Assembly as a whole makes a decision, the believers follow
> in unity. So how do these Assemblies make decisions and guide the community?
> 
> After the Assembly is elected, the nine members, or as many as possible gather
> to organize the Assembly.  The Assembly elects its officers: a chairman,
> vice-chairman, secretary and treasurer. The Assembly then begins consulting on
> the needs of the community.
> 
> Bahá'í consultation demands that every member of the Assembly
> have the freedom to express his or her views. However, once an opinion is
> offered, it belongs to the Assembly, not to the individual. This way, pinions
> can clash without feelings being hurt. For it is only this clash of different
> opinions that can produce the "spark of truth."  It is through this process of
> consultaion that the Assembly receives a shared vision.
> 
> This shared vision is the "lamp of guidance" for the community.  How can the
> Assembly assist the believers to grow in their love for
> Bahá'u'lláh? How can the community create an atmosphere of love
> and unity? How can the Assembly encourage each individual to play his or her
> own part? These and many other questions will come before the Assembly as it
> grows to fulfill its role in building God's Kingdom on earth.
> 
> 
> Community Activities
> 
> The Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility to guide the community to be both
> a model and a magnet. The community, through the efforts of its members, should
> become a model of love, righteousness, chastity and interracial fellowship.
> Through its unity, the Bahá'í community will become a magnet
> drawing the masses to the Cause of God. The Spiritual Assembly's great,
> God-given task is to guide this process.
> 
> In stepping forth to meet this challenge, the Assembly should have confidence
> and rely on the promises of `Abdu'l-Bahá that His spirit is present at
> the Assembly meeting. The Assembly should also turn for assistance to their
> Auxiliary Board Members. These are individuals appointed to love and nurture
> Spiritual Assemblies in their region. The Auxiliary Board Members appoint
> Assistants to help them care for the Assemblies.
> 
>  To create a "shared vision" the Assembly consults with the believers in the
> community.  How does each one want to serve the Cause of God? What kinds of
> events do the believers want to see?  How can the youth and children be at the
> heart of the community? How can the community achieve true racial harmony? How
> can the Bahá'í community serve the county, town or city? How can
> our Feasts and Holy Days be more joyous?
> 
> Answering these and many other questions in unity will create the magnetic
> model that will attract many others to the Bahá'í Faith. As new
> believers enter in troops, the Assembly will find itself growing to meet
> ever-increasing challenges.
> 
> 
> My Faith
> 
> Do I believe? Do I have faith that God has sent Bahá'u'lláh to
> build the Kingdom of God in these turbulent times? Do I believe that God can
> and will work through the lowliest and most humble of His servants to achieve
> His purpose? If the answer is "yes", then it is time for action - for it is
> action that is based in faith that attracts the power and blessings of God.
> 
>  Only the actions of the individual believers can bring into being the Local
> Spiritual Assembly. Only the individual can form friendships and attract others
> to this great Cause. Only the individual can pray and study the Holy Writings.
> Only the individual can joyfully and eagerly carry out the decisions of the
> Spiritual Assembly.
> 
> On April 21, under God's watchful eye, may you have the great privilege and
> bounty of helping to build His Kingdom by gathering with your fellow
> Bahá'ís to elect His Spiritual Assemblies. May these actions of
> faith bring the blessings of God to a darkened world. "Thy will be done on
> earth, as it is in heaven."
> 
> 
> Bahá'í Consultation: A Shining Light
> 
> "O Divine providence! This assemblage is composed of Thy friends who are
> attracted to Thy beauty and are set abaze by the fire of Thy love cause them to
> become the promulgators of the oneness of mankind and the cause of love and
> concord in the world of humanity."  —  `Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í
> Prayers, p. 115
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh has given us a process, called consultation, through
> which we investigate truth, seek justice, and make decisions based upon
> spiritual laws and principles. "Consultation is a shining light which, in a
> dark world, leadeth the way and guideth.  The maturity of the gift of
> understanding is made manifest through consultation."
> 
> The Universal House of Justice guides our understanding: "There are spiritual
> principles, or what some call human values, by which solutions can be found for
> every social problem." Spiritual Assemblies go through several steps during the
> process of consultation. Facts are gathered, and the problem is clearly stated.
> Relevant spiritual principles are identified, and the Assembly considers how
> these apply to the particular situation.  A discussion follows in which every
> member of the Assembly freely expresses his or her views, and ultimately the
> spark of truth becomes apparent. A decision is made after all have been heard
> and a consensus has emerged. All members then obey this decision in unity.
> 
> 
> Individuals and Institutions
> 
> "The steps of her holy resting-place represent Local Spiritual Assemblies . . .
> the columns are like the National Spiritual Assemblies, while the dome
> symbolizes the Universal House of Justice."— Shoghi Effendi, in Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 92
> 
> There is an intimate connection between each individual Bahá'í
> and the elected institutions of the Faith.  The believer is connected through
> his or her prayerful and thoughtful participation in voting for the Local
> Spiritual Assembly and for the delegate to the National Convention. The
> individual is also involved through obedient and loving support of the
> institutions and by devoted service on an institution should she or he be
> elected.
> 
> "The friends are called upon to give their wholehearted support and cooperation
> to the Local Spiritual Assembly, first by voting for the membership and then by
> energetically pursuing its plans and programmes, by turning to it in time of
> trouble or difficulty, by praying for its success and taking delight in its
> rise to influence and honor.  This great prize, this gift of God within each
> community must be cherished, nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayed
> for."— The Universal House of Justice, Naw-Rúz 1974, in
> Messages From the Universal House of Justice, p.
> 265
> 
> As the Universal House of Justice explains, "The authority to direct the
> affairs of the Faith locally, nationally and internationally, is divinely
> conferred on elected representatives. However the power to accomplish the tasks
> of the community rests primarily in the mass of the believers."— The Universal House of Justice, letter of May 19, 1994
> 
> "The power of action in the believers is unlocked at the level of individual
> initiative and surges at the level of collective volition."— The Universal House of Justice, letter of May 19, 1994
> 
> As we individually fulfill our responsibilities to the institutions of
> Bahá'u'lláh's Adminis-trative Order, we are part of a divine
> building process, providing a firm foundation for the unification and spiritual
> regeneration of the human family.
> 
> "The Bahá'í community is engaged in an immense historical process
> that is entering a critical stage. Bahá'u'lláh has given to the
> world institutions to operate in an order designed to canalize the forces of a
> new civilization."— The Universal House of Justice, Ridván Message to the
> Bahá'ís of the World, 1996
>
> — *Spiritual Institutions: The Foundation for Oneness (Used by permission of the curator)*