In February, 1904, the president of that "organization" declared that baptism for the dead was a _permissive rite_, [5] and that it was taken from the Church, "and if subsequently it was to be engaged in," said he, "and enjoyed by the same people, it must be restored again by revelation and command, and could not be assumed as being held over by suffrance. We do not {88} know of any revelation or command authoritatively promulgated renewing the privilege." His statement is a flat acknowledgment that he does not hold the keys of this work and that they can only be received by revelation. That he does not hold the keys is true. That he did not receive them from his father he admits, [6] and William Marks, William W. Blair and Zenas H. Gurley, who "ordained" him to his office of president of the "Reorganized" church, never held them. They could only be obtained from the Prophet Joseph Smith, and from him, as has been shown, the Twelve received them in 1844. "Young Joseph" might truthfully have gone further and declared that if the privilege was taken away, before it could again be practiced with authority and power that the keys of the Priesthood which were held by Elijah would again have to be restored. His statement is an unqualified admission that the work of Elijah was performed in vain. He challenges that prophet's statement, _that the time had fully come_. He acknowledges that, in spite of all the efforts of the "Reorganization" in the attempt to save souls, the whole earth is in danger of being "_smitten with a curse_" and "_utterly wasted_" at the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, _which is "near, even at the doors_." If this statement of the president of the "Reorganized" church is true, then the members of his church stand in jeopardy every hour; darkness covers the face of the earth; there is no salvation for the children of men; the word of the Lord has failed, and destruction awaits the earth and her inhabitants. In declaring that baptism for the dead was a "_permissive rite_" he shows a willful lack of understanding pertaining to the great eternal plan of salvation which was revealed through his Prophet father. In declaring that baptism was a local commandment to the Saints at Nauvoo, _not binding on the members of the "Reorganization_" the members of his church acknowledge that the hand of Jehovah is not guiding them; that they are floundering in the mire of unbelief and ignorance. They make light of one of the "_most glorious subjects belonging to the everlasting Gospel_." Yes, the authorities of the "Reorganized" church have declared by conference resolution that baptism for the dead _is {89} not binding_ on them because it was a _local commandment_, and "_has never been reiterated nor referred to as a commandment_!"