The primary claim of the book was the possibility of attaining physical immortality through the ardent pursuit of Christian and ascetic principles.

Skarin was born in American Falls, Idaho, the seventh of twelve children, raised in the "bleak environment" of a dry farm by parents Frederick John Kohlepp and Mary Ella Hickman.

Annalee's eldest sister, Minerva Teichert, was an accomplished artist with paintings on display in many temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Skarin attended the University of Utah for one quarter, was a member of the LDS Church, and served as a missionary in California.

Her second marriage, arranged by her mother,[2] was to Hugo Joseph Avarell on August 31, 1922 in Salt Lake City.

"[5] The book's most controversial claim was the possibility of attaining physical immortality through the ardent pursuit of Christian principles, which she summarized as gratitude, praise, and love.

[10] In 1952 Skarin's daughter and son-in-law, Hope and Lynn M. Hilton, sent an unfavorable study they had made of Annalee's book to LDS apostle and president of the Deseret News, Mark E.

[11] A Sunstone article by Samuel Taylor describes the ensuing events:[10] In the spring of 1952 Annalee was visiting friends, Chris and Sally Franchow, in Salt Lake City.

... 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.

Since church president George Albert Smith did not appoint Annalee Skarin to be a revelator, her books could only be inspired by the devil.

[10] Skarin used five or six aliases,[1] including Evon Janson, while living in Los Angeles after her reported translation;[10] Christine Mercie, while publishing the book Sons of God; and for many years Nansela Mathews.

[13] One spiritualist responded to her claim of immortality this way: "Recent research undertaken suggests that Annalee Skarin and her husband, Reason, may have carried out one of the greatest hoaxes of the 20th century.