Basically, "people of capacity" are those
individuals, no matter in what walk of life they are found, and no matter what
their level of education, who demonstrate capacity in various ways. For
example, among any group of people there are those who are outstanding because
they show a capacity for understanding, for work, for efficient action, for
leadership, for drawing other people together, for self-sacrificing and devoted
service -- for any number of qualities which enable them to respond actively to
the needs of their environment and make a difference to it. In some cases this
capacity has already been demonstrated; in others it is still latent but can be
developed. It is for such people that we should search, since they can quickly
become either devoted and active Bahá'ís or valued collaborators in the work of
promoting Bahá'í ideals.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a message dated 6 November 1994,
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual
Assembly; compilation ‘Agriculture and Rural Life’, prepared by the Research
Department of the Universal House of Justice)
Some insights:
Those who already demonstrate such capacities and those who have them “latent but can be developed”:
- “a capacity for understanding,
- for work,
- for efficient action,
- for leadership,
- for drawing other people together,
- for self-sacrificing and
- devoted service”
