Leaders in the religion are counting on the edifice, which is in the seat of the Universal House of Justice much like the Vatican is to Catholics, to boost the profile of the Baha'is. There are some 145,000 Baha'is in the United States, including more than 7,600 in Florida. Baha'is believe in one God and that the prophet Baha'u'llah, who was born in 1817 in Iran, follows a line of divine messengers sent by God that include Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad. The writings of Baha'u'llah are the heart of the faith. The communal life is based on a 19-month calendar with 19 days and four left over for exchanging gifts and other hospitality.
Worship includes daily prayer, pilgrimages and fasting.
Baha'is follow a code of conduct which forbids drinking alcohol, premarital sex and adultery, among other things. As important as prayer are the social teachings of the faith, which cover principles of equal rights for women, and breaking down of barriers of race. Baha'is do not have clergy or monastic orders. There are 63 spiritual assemblies in Florida. The region' s flock is organized into 13 spiritual assemblies in Broward, eight in Miami-Dade and six in Palm Beach County.