Annalee Skarin
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Annalee Skarin (born Annalee Kohlepp: July 7, 1899 – Transfigured 1952), was an American
Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
writer of
mysticism Mysticism is popularly known as becoming one with God or the Absolute, but may refer to any kind of ecstasy or altered state of consciousness which is given a religious or spiritual meaning. It may also refer to the attainment of insight in u ...
and
New Age New Age is a range of spiritual or religious practices and beliefs which rapidly grew in Western society during the early 1970s. Its highly eclectic and unsystematic structure makes a precise definition difficult. Although many scholars conside ...
literature. Her 1948 book ''Ye Are Gods'' was popular among some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Utah, but leaders of the Church felt it had serious doctrinal flaws and her refusal to renounce the principles taught in the book led to her
excommunication Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
. The underlying theme in all of her writings was a desire to understand the deeper meaning behind scripture. She wrote: "There was just that intense feeling that something was required of us and we had to find out what it was." Skarin was a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...
(LDS Church) who served as a missionary in California, and later was a
ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...
Relief Society The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, United States, and has more than 7 million members in over 18 ...
president. As of 2014, ''Ye Are Gods'' was in its 18th printing, though her later books were more popular among non-Latter-day Saints in the New Age movement. She accepted no royalties, and it remains unclear who, if anyone, profited from her many successful books. Her daughter Hope Hilton along with husband Lynn Hilton were active participants in her excommunication. In a letter published in Sunstone magazine in the year 1991. She stated. "If the mortal remains of the Skarins are ever discovered, only then will the mystery surrounding their 1975 disappearance ever be resolved". The LDS Church continues to believe they are dead and buried in Sunset Cemetery Corning California since 1988. Even though the Cemetery records have neither Annalee's or Reasons buriel or plot in their listings. It is believed the LDS Church was mis informed by an investigator that supplied a dubious death certificate on Annalee. None exists for Reason Skarin.


Early life

Skarin was born in
American Falls, Idaho American Falls is a city in and the county seat of Power County, Idaho. The population was 4,457 at the time of the 2010 census. History American Falls was a landmark waterfall on the Snake River, named after a party of American trappers whose ...
, the seventh of twelve children. Her parents were Frederick John Kohlepp and Mary Ella Hickman, her grandfather was
"Wild Bill" Hickman William Adams "Wild Bill" Hickman (April 16, 1815 – August 21, 1883) was an American frontiersman. He also served as a representative to the Utah Territorial Legislature. Latter Day Saint Hickman was baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of ...
. Annalee's eldest sister,
Minerva Teichert Minerva Bernetta Kohlhepp Teichert (August 28, 1888 – May 3, 1976) was a 20th-century American painter notable for her art depicting Western and Mormon subjects, including a collection of murals depicting scenes from the Book of Mormon. Te ...
, was an accomplished artist with paintings on display in many temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Career


''Ye Are Gods''

Skarin self-published her first book, ''Ye Are Gods'', in 1948. Correspondence indicates that this was soon followed by a second volume in 1949.Letter from Annalee Skarin to Hope Hilton October 12, 1949, Hope A. Hilton papers, Ms 584, Box 5 Folder 5. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.Letter from Lynn Hilton to
Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was an American business, civic, and religious leader who was the twelfth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The grandson of early Latter-day S ...
October 19, 1949, Hope A. Hilton papers, Ms 584, Box 5 Folder 5. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah.
She published a new edition in 1952 that combined the two volumes. This edition removed explicit references to the LDS Church but still widely quoted early LDS leaders and scripture. The content of these books was central to her excommunication in 1952.


Excommunication

Skarin's daughter, Hope Hilton and her husband, Lynn M. Hilton, submitted a unfavorable study they had made of Annalee's book to LDS
apostle An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...
and president of the ''
Deseret News The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...
'',
Mark E. Petersen Mark Edward Petersen (November 7, 1900 – January 11, 1984) was an American news editor and religious leader who served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1944 un ...
.The Life and Death of Annalee Skarin
Petersen gave Annalee the choice of renouncing her writing as the work of Satan, or facing
excommunication Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
. "In the spring of 1952 Annalee was visiting friends, Chris and Sally Franchow, in Salt Lake City who lived on Ninth East 140 South 900 East just across from the Hillcrest Ward 151 South 900 East As news of her visit became known, she was besieged with invitations to speak at Church and fireside groups. Then without warning the axe fell. After addressing an enthusiastic congregation, she was ushered into the bishop’s office where she was confronted by Elder Mark E. Petersen, a member of the Council of the Twelve. He denounced Ye Are Gods as inspired by Satan, and demanded that she repent and repudiate the book. 'And then it was that I, who love Christ above all others,' she wrote, 'was acclaimed to be the great anti-Christ.' When she rejected the ultimatum, she was tried by a Church court and excommunicated in June 1952. "Annalee called it a 'kangaroo court,' where I was refused counsel. My efforts to bear witness to what I had written, or even to defend myself, were denied and silenced.' When Sally Franchow tried to defend her, 'For her courageous efforts she too was excommunicated.'"' The definitive reasons for Annalee Skarin's excommunication are contained in the Church Court's transcript, which Petersen refused to release.' This essay was written seven months after Annalee's excommunication in response to letters requesting an explanation for his actions.Hope A. Hilton papers, Ms 584, Box 6 Folder 6. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah. Petersen begins his essay, pages 2–5, by describing the difficulties inherent in establishing a church based on personal revelation. Soon after the establishment of the LDS Church several members began to have revelations. That might sound like a good thing but the content of those revelations conflicted with
Joseph Smith Joseph Smith Jr. (December 23, 1805June 27, 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saint movement. When he was 24, Smith published the Book of Mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he ...
's leadership. The Lord resolved this issue through Smith receiving revelation that only his revelations affecting church members were real, all others were of the devil. His status as the sole revelator would pass to his successors and he could appoint substitute revelators as needed. Petersen concludes that since LDS President
George Albert Smith George Albert Smith Sr. (April 4, 1870 – April 4, 1951) was an American religious leader who served as the eighth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Early life Born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territor ...
did not appoint Annalee Skarin to be a revelator, her books could only be inspired by the devil. Skarin sent copies of her books to all the church leaders. In an October 12, 1949 letter to her daughter Hope, she wrote, "From many have come beautiful letters --- the one from President George Albert Smith was filled with love and kindness." She also referred to letters from apostle (later to be President)
Spencer W. Kimball Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was an American business, civic, and religious leader who was the twelfth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The grandson of early Latter-day S ...
and from "Stake, Mission, and Temple Presidents…".Letter from Annalee Skarin to Hope Hilton October 12, 1949, Hope A. Hilton papers, Ms 584, Box 5 Folder 5. Special Collections and Archives. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott. Salt Lake City, Utah. Skarin was excommunicated by Petersen after Smith's death.


Personal life

Annalee Skarin married William Michael "Mikey" Gorman on July 15, 1916; the marriage was annulled in 1920. Her second marriage, arranged by her mother, was to Hugo Joseph Avarell on August 31, 1922 in
Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...
. It ended in divorce after 21 years. Her final marriage was to Reason E. Skarin on October 18, 1943 in
Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...
. Her elder daughter, Hope (Avarell) Hilton, was actively involved in Skarin's excommunication. Her younger daughter, Linda Lee (Avarell) Moat, was the child described suffering from a severe illness in ''Ye Are Gods''. "Dear God, this child is Yours first -- and then she is mine. If you want her -- take her -- I love her so! But all that I have is Thine." After her excommunication, Skarin used the alias Nansela Mathews to prevent Hope Hilton from discovering her whereabouts.


Works

* ''The Pathway of Glory'' Annalee Skarin, compiled from 1933–1946, self-published, eventually formed the basis for ''Ye Are Gods''. * ''Ye Are Gods,'' self-published, 1948 * ''Ye Are Gods'' (, published b
De Vorss and Co
1952) As of 2014 this book was in its 18th printing. * ''Sons Of God'', by ''Christine Mercie'' (, published b
De Vorss and Co
1954) A drama written by Annalee Skarin under a pen name. This was Annalee's first book written after her excommunication, as of 2003 it was in its 23rd printing. * ''To God The Glory'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1956) * ''Temple Of God'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1958) * ''Secrets Of Eternity'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1960) * ''Celestial Song Of Creation'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1962) * ''Man Triumphant'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1966) * ''Beyond Mortal Boundaries'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1969) * ''The Book Of Books'' (, published by De Vorss and Co, 1972) * ''Pathway of the GODS'', Vol 1 date unknown 1995 * ''Pathway of the GODS'', Vol 2 date unknown 1995


References


External links

*
Samuel W. Taylor Samuel Woolley Taylor (February 5, 1907 – September 26, 1997) was an American novelist, scriptwriter, and historian. Biography Taylor was born in Provo, Utah to Janet "Nettie" Maria Woolley and John W. Taylor, the son of John Taylor, p ...

The Puzzle of Annalee Skarin: Was She Translated Correctly?
''
Sunstone Sunstone is a microcline or oligoclase feldspar, which when viewed from certain directions exhibits a spangled appearance. It has been found in Southern Norway, Sweden, various United States localities and on some beaches along the midcoast of ...
'', Volume 15:1 (April 1991): 41–46. * https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/081-47-48.pdf
Annalee Skarin
– a short biography by New Age teacher Robert Coon {{DEFAULTSORT:Skarin, Annalee 1899 births 1988 deaths People from American Falls, Idaho Writers from Idaho American Latter Day Saints Women mystics New Age writers People excommunicated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Mormon mystics