The statement which you quote in the second paragraph of
your letter is taken from a Tablet of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá which was addressed by Him
to the friends in Tihrán at a time when, without the knowledge and permission
of the Spiritual Assembly and contrary to government regulations, one of the
friends undertook to print the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. The instructions of `Abdu'l-Bahá
which you quote were issued on that occasion and in that context. The Universal
House of Justice has pointed out that when Shoghi Effendi enumerates the
functions of a Local Spiritual Assembly in "Bahá'í Administration" page
37, he indicates that the local matters to be referred to the Local Spiritual
Assembly are those "pertaining to the Cause". This does not mean, of
course, that personal problems may not be referred to Bahá'í Assemblies. The
Local Spiritual Assembly, however, is not the only institution or agency to
which the friends may turn for consultation on personal matters. Such
consultation could be held with members of one's family, with friends, or with
experts. For example in one of His Tablets `Abdu'l-Bahá envisages the possibility
of experts in one profession conferring together.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 8 April 1975 to an individual believer ; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Consultation)