Excerpts...
I am currently reading "The Child of The Covenant" by Adib Taherzadeh (who is one of my favorite Baha'i scholars/authors). I'm about 60 pages into it, and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone...Baha'i or not. It contains clear explanations of some of the more complicated facets of the Baha'i Faith and the role of the Covenant. I have also included some passages regarding the conduct of the believers. Amazing! I decided to type some of the passages that struck me from the book, to pique your interest and for everyone's general educational benefit. :-) Passages in italics are from the Writings, plain text is the words of Mr. Taherzadeh. Enjoy!

The Covenant of Baha'u'llah will continue to be a testing ground for the followers of Baha'u'llah. Those few who may succumb to the dictates of their own selfish desires and arise in opposition to the divinely ordained institutions of the Faith will cut themselves off from the tree of the Cause of God and will wither and perish in time. Indeed, one of the distinguishing characteristics of the Faith of Baha'u'llah is that although many of its outstanding followers rebelled against the Covenant and tried with all their might to undermine its foundations, they did not succeed in creating schisms and breaking the unity of the community.


...Finally, there are those who, while confessing belief in Baha’u’llah, do not accept the provisions of His Covenant and rise against ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi or the Universal House of Justice. Or they may acknowledge Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha but actively oppose Shoghi Effendi or the Universal House of Justice. Such people are acting against the Covenant and, after adequate counsels and warnings, may be declared Covenant-breakers.

...The best protection for the believer is steadfastness in the Covenant, which, in simple language, means obedience to Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi and, today, the Universal House of Justice. This is a matter of faith and every Baha’i who has recognized Baha’u’llah as the Supreme Manifestation of God has already accepted this cardinal principal of the Cause.
There are many teachings or principles in the Faith with which a person may agree. The faith of a believer is tested, however, when he comes across a statement that is contrary to his way of thinking. In this instance, the degree of an individual’s steadfastness in the Covenant is determined by the ready manner in which he or she sincerely acknowledges that Baha’u’llah and those upon whom He has conferred infallibility are divinely guided, that their words, their teachings and their guidance are free from error and that the mind of man is finite and his judgement often erroneous.
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He, Who is the Eternal Truth, beareth Me witness! Nothing whatever can, in this Day, inflict a greater harm upon this Cause than dissension and strife, contention, estrangement and apathy, among the loved ones of God. Flee them, through the power of God and His sovereign aid, and strive ye to knit together the hearts of men, in His Name, the Unifier, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.-Baha'u'llah, Gleanings

Thus each and every believer bears the responsibility of protecting the Cause of God. He can either harm the Cause through unseemly conduct or exalt and protect it through goodly deeds and a saintly character...
A believer cannot adequately discharge his responsibility to protect the Cause unless he is firm in the Covenant...

I sorrow not for the burden of My imprisonment. Neither do I grieve over My abasement, or the tribulation I suffer at the hands of Mine enemies. By My life! They are My glory, a glory wherewith God hath adorned His own Self. Would that ye know it!...
My sorrows are for those who have involved themselves in their corrupt passions, and claim to be associated with the Faith of God, the Gracious, the All-Praised.- Baha'u'llah, Gleanings