June 12, 2015

Before “the election of the Universal House of Justice there was no knowledge that there would be no Guardian.”

The friends should clearly understand that before the election of the Universal House of Justice there was no knowledge that there would be no Guardian. There could not have been any such foreknowledge, whatever opinions individual believers may have held. Neither the Hands of the Cause of God, nor the International Bahá'í Council, nor any other existing body could make a decision upon this all-important matter. Only the House of Justice had authority to pronounce upon it. This was one urgent reason for calling the election of the Universal House of Justice as soon as possible. 
- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated 9 March, 1965; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986)