Due to the rapid growth of the religion around the world, the Universal House of Justice in 1973 allowed Auxiliary Board members to appoint their own assistants to maintain adequate contact with assemblies and individuals in their areas. In 2008 there were about twelve thousand such assistants worldwide.[16] Unlike other members of the Institution of the Counsellors, assistants to the Auxiliary Board may serve on Spiritual Assemblies, and are sometimes youth.[16]