Paul Desailly identifies a primary challenge facing the Bahá'í Faith as the stagnation in enrollments, noting that growth has failed to keep pace with the world population for forty years. He acknowledges that although no one knows the exact time, the current world order will soon be replaced by a new one. Desailly links the lack of successful propagation to a failure by the community to fully realize and promote the fundamental Baha'i principles. He points to core Baha'i texts, such as the Tablet To The Hague and The Promise of World Peace, as containing the essential cures for humanity's current problems, which should logically lead to an increase in enrollment, particularly among young people.
A specific principle Desailly repeatedly highlights as being neglected is the necessity of a universal auxiliary language. He calls this principle the "primary principle for realizing the oneness of humanity" and "the very first service to the world of man". He cites 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who stated that a common language is the "greatest means of progress towards the union of East and West" and will "upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity". Desailly suggests that certain Baha’i leaders have let this vital, foundational principle "slide" for decades, contributing directly to the faith's statistical stagnation. He further asserts that ignoring principles we find unpalatable prevents the realization of how all the Bahá'í principles are interconnected.
Desailly addresses issues of leadership and community action, stating that poor enrollment growth rests partly with the wider public for marginalizing religion, which he says leads to chaos and war. However, he also addresses internal challenges, suggesting that individual Baha'i functionaries or counselors can sometimes influence or mislead decision-making collectives, which harms enrollment. While urging obedience to institutional guidance, Desailly argues that criticizing Baha'i individuals in leadership roles when propagation is at stake is not ruled out and does not threaten the Faith’s institutions. To rectify the situation, he suggests the radical idea of electing younger members who are willing to consult fairly on the auxiliary language principle. He stresses the need for Baha'is to be seen obeying Baha'u'llah's instructions, noting that consultation and compassion are the two "luminaries of divine wisdom," but consultation (guidance) takes precedence over compassion in the pursuit of wisdom.
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