is loved ones....

The various Assemblies, local and national, constitute today the
bedrock upon the strength of which the Universal House [of
Justice] is in future to be firmly established and raised. Not
until these function vigorously and harmoniously can the hope for
the termination of this period of transition be realized....

... bear in mind that the keynote of the Cause of God is not
dictatorial authority but humble fellowship, not arbitrary power,
but the spirit of frank and loving consultation. Nothing short of
the spirit of a true Baha'i can hope to reconcile the principles
of mercy and justice, of freedom and submission, of the sanctity
of the right of the individual and of self-surrender, of
vigilance, discretion and prudence on the one hand, and
fellowship, candor and courage on the other.

The local Spiritual Assemblies of a country are linked together and
co-ordinating through another elected body of nine members, the National
Spiritual Assembly. This body comes into being by means of an annual
election held by elected delegates representing the local Baha'i
communities.... The National Convention in which the delegates are gather
together is composed of an elective body based upon the principle of
proportional representation.... These National Conventions are preferably
held during the period of Ridvan, the twelve days beginning April 21st
which commemorate the Declaration made by Baha'u'llah in the Garden of
Ridvan near Ba_gh_dad. The recognition of delegates is vested in the
outgoing National Spiritual Assembly.

A National Convention is an occasion for deepening one's understanding of
Baha'i activities and of sharing reports of national and local activities
for the period of the elapsed year.... The function of a Baha'i delegate
is limited to the duration of the National Convention and participation in
the election of the new National Spiritual Assembly. While gathered
together, the delegates are a consultative and advisory body whose
recommendations are to be carefully considered by the members of the
elected National Spiritual Assembly....

The relation of the National Spiritual Assembly to the local Spiritual
Assemblies and to the body of the believers in the country is thus defined
in the letters of the Guardian of the Cause:

Regarding the establishment of "National Assemblies," it is of
vital importance that in every coun