I consciously hesitated because I knew that this Book II would deal with aspects of the gospel which are not only little understood by the Church membership at large, but which appear to be in dangerous opposition to the gospel as most members know it. We as Latter-day Saints are so entrenched in the belief that we must earn our rewards by diligently clinging to the tree of knowledge of good and evil, that I felt no great urge to add my small contribution to rocking the boat. The Church is experiencing wonderful growth, truly great and inspired leadership, and most importantly, we are already shifting gradually but powerfully from an almost totally "works" orientated gospel toward a much greater understanding of the gospel of "divine grace in Christ." So what was my problem? Isn’t grace what this book is all about? No, not really.
     My problem has been that the material I was correlating from our scriptures and the deeper teachings of the prophets went beyond grace! Grace is what we need from Christ in our sense of separateness from Him. Separateness is what the tree of knowledge is all about. The tree of life is about union—infinite and eternal oneness, the ultimate reality which never fails. The direct experience of this knowing of our oneness is what I believe the prophet Mormon meant when he testified to the "pure love of Christ...which He hath BESTOWED upon ALL who are true followers of His Son, Jesus Christ." It is simply that His perfect love is the result of having experiences of going beyond the sense of separateness. This is the process of going from grace to grace until we receive of the fullness of the Father. (D&C 93:20) It is my belief that the result of such experiences is the MARK which we are not to look beyond, but, instead, to look to and receive while still in this life.
     Yet we Latter-day Saints actually cherish, even valiantly defend, our belief that separateness, even when accompanied by the Holy Ghost, is all there is! So I had been peacefully sitting on top of a nearly finished second book—at least until the last several months. Rather suddenly and surprisingly, I became aware that I had probably coasted long enough. I was to face the fire and bear witness to this incredible blessing of directly experiencing the mystery of godliness which the Lord has cautiously but clearly revealed throughout His scriptures.

     I am fully aware that, presently, these books are not for the average member of the Church. Instead, what I am writing is for the real seeker, the person who is hungering and thirsting, even struggling, after the gifts of righteousness promised so forcefully in the Father’s new covenant, particularly in the Book of Mormon.
     As you read this second book, you will see even more clearly why I feel this way. It is not that we need to look down on those members who are generally satisfied with where they are in their spiritual growth because we should recognize that they are doing just fine and so is the Church. This book is not a panic, doomsday cry in the wilderness. It is merely a peek into the direction that I believe the Lord is gradually leading the Church through those He has called to preside over it. Neither am I at all concerned with the gradual pace at which that movement is taking place. Everything in due season. These books are for those who are willing to take the heat of helping to prepare the way by their own deeper conversion to our Savior.

     So this book is the second in a four part series in which I am sharing a journey of discovery in my own attempt to fulfill the nearly forgotten challenge made by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1986 during his first conference as President of the Church. In his landmark address, he referred to an important revelation received in 1899 by Lorenzo Snow on tithing. President Benson reminded us that the dramatic results of President Snow’s revelation brought the Church out of financial bondage and transformed its temporal structure. Then, next, President Benson said:

     NOW, IN OUR DAY, the Lord has revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon, to get the Church and ALL THE CHILDREN OF ZION out from under condemnation, the scourge and the judgment. This message must also be carried to the members of the Church throughout the world...
     Now, in the authority of the sacred priesthood in me vested, I invoke my blessing upon the Latter-day Saints and upon good people everywhere...I bless you with increased understanding of the Book of Mormon.
     I promise you that from this moment forward, if we will daily sup from its pages and ABIDE BY ITS PRECEPTS, that God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church A BLESSING HITHERTO UNKNOWN—and we will plead to the Lord that He will begin to lift the condemnation—the scourge and judgment. Of this I bear solemn witness.
(Ensign, May 1986, p.78. As will be the case with all quotations throughout this book, the emphasis by capitalization, italics and brackets are added by the author unless otherwise noted.)

     As I write this in 1997, it has been over ten years since President Benson announced that thrilling challenge and promise which the Lord had conveyed through him to the Church. He continued that theme at each of the five conferences which followed, making six in all, covering the first three years of his presidency.

     In his seventh conference, President Benson stopped publicly calling the Church out from under its condemnation. To me, it was as if the Spirit had restrained him from saying more, perhaps for the same reason that Nephi told his people he was silenced by the Spirit. With great sadness, he proclaimed:

     And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be. (2 Nephi 32:7)

     As we read those harsh words by an elderly Nephi, let's remember that he was not talking to Laman and Lemuel, nor their followers. They had long since been left behind. Instead, he was talking to a whole new generation of his own followers who had grown up in the new land. Yet they were afraid to go beyond their familiar law of righteousness to join him in entering into a more perfect brightness of hope in Christ.
     In a similar way, after six conferences, President Benson spoke no more to the Church about his revelation. Instead, at his seventh conference, he gave some warm encouragement to our senior saints. In his eighth conference, he sent his love and encouragement to the children of the world. As it turned out, that was his farewell public blessing. His deteriorating health ended his extensive speaking career, but not his great love for the Savior, His Church and the Book of Mormon.

     So what about President Benson's challenge? As for myself, and I am sure for many thousands of others, his promise of a blessing hitherto unknown has been fulfilled in our lives beyond our fondest hopes and expectations. My personal testimony, therefore, is shared in this series of four volumes.
     Book I, Looking Beyond the Mark is about my discovering that for much of my life I had been living by faith in Christ in the preparatory way, i.e. by "the tree of knowledge of good and evil," rather than in the ultimate, victorious way, i.e. by "the tree of life." Most of my first book deals with what I learned from a deeper understanding of the scriptures when I made the shift from one way of experiencing Christ to the other. It is my hope that the reader will have recently read Book I, Looking Beyond the Mark before reading this second book because I will be building on the basic principles discussed in that volume. So if it has been some time since reading it, please do yourself a favor and reread at least Section I of the first book.
     In contrast, this work, Book II, Finding the Mark, is about the scriptural lessons which show us how to experience the results of a more direct faith in Christ by looking forward, as Alma says, to the promised fruit which grows on Christ's precious tree of life — which tree we are to let the Savior grow in our very own hearts. These lessons have to do with obtaining a clearer understanding of the miraculous nature of the mark, which I believe to be Christ's gift of His pure and perfect love which the Father sheds into the hearts of ALL WHO ARE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF HIS SON. (Moroni 7:48)      This Book II is designed to more clearly define the nature of the true mark or target to which sanctifying faith in Christ must be aimed. I had found that as I became clearer about exactly what Christ can and will shed into my heart, the more empowered my faith in the Redeemer became. As those who have read the first book know, I believe it is very useful to see that the gift of His pure and holy love is symbolized by the beautiful tree of life which we are told about in the temple and which Lehi, Nephi and Joseph Smith, Sr. experienced in their visions.(1 Nephi 8, 11 & Lucy Mack Smith’s History of Joseph Smith, Bookcraft, 1956, pp. 49-50)
     Since the Lord declared that the reason for our being under this latter-day condemnation is our vanity and unbelief, both Books I and II deal with the process of discovering, on a personal basis, the depth of our own vanity and unbelief, especially as they relate to Christ. Through this deeper understanding of the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, there can grow a greater meekness in our relationship with Christ and a more powerful belief in the incredible blessings He promises to give us, even in this life, just as President Benson promised.

     Book III will deal with the scriptural lessons which describe how we can experience Christ more completely as our way, our truth and our life. The prophet Mormon called this stage, literally, entering into the rest of the Lord from this time henceforth until we rest with Him in heaven. Thus the title, Book III, Entering Into the Rest of the Lord.
     The last, Book IV, Perfection in Christ, will deal with what the Lord has revealed about how the Church and the children of Zion might experience the powerful, final preparations for the Second Coming of Christ.

     The contents of these books are not offered for doctrine, nor do they represent the official position of the Church. These teachings are actually in contradiction to many aspects of the preparatory gospel to which the Lord is requiring the Church, as a body, to limit its teaching. These deeper concepts, which I believe to be part of the fullness of the gospel, are of course my own private views, based upon my experiences and understanding of the scriptures which have come from those blessings. And as I have tried to make clear, my views have continued to deepen and broaden as time goes on. Agreeing with me, believing these ideas, even understanding this way of seeing the gospel is wonderful, of course, but the real value can only come by experiencing them. Only the Father can give you that experience. All these books can do is help you remove some of the barriers in your heart and mind which prevent you from receiving these blessings.
     I have been interested in what people have experienced in their hearts as they have read Book I, Looking Beyond the Mark. Some have become angry, some say they were merely confused. A significant number, however, seem to have found themselves moving to deeper levels of love and joy than they have ever known before. For this, I truly thank the Lord. That is my constant prayer in sharing these very personal views and experiences.

     During the years of 1994 and 1995, it was my privilege to present workshops on how to grow the tree of life in one’s heart, i.e., finding the mark. I titled the fifteen hour course, "Finding the Joy and Power of Living Without Resentment." I charged a modest $50.00. Participation was enthusiastic and lives were being changed in marvelous ways. Then in January, 1996, I was ordered by my stake president to stop giving these workshops. I sadly but willingly obeyed. He expressed his concern that I was teaching the gospel for money (priestcraft), and doing them independently, of my own free will, which meant I was doing so without being under close priesthood supervision.
     Then in late summer, 1996, much to my surprise, I was ordered to stop distributing Book I, Looking Beyond the Mark, for the simple reason that it was "an apostate book." He had been saying that for over a year, but had not restricted distribution. Though reluctantly and not agreeing that it was an apostate book, I accepted the new restriction.

     It was soon after this that I recognized that I would have to make a choice. Although the reader may find this difficult to understand, I could see why the Lord might be on both of our sides at the same time. The Church must stay with the preparatory gospel, and yet, the Lord will continue to give the saints abundant opportunities, if they care to look, to understand and experience "the mysteries of godliness" on the fullness level. The only question I had was this¾ did I choose to be one of those who would be a path-breaker?
     Actually, either way was okay with me. As I mentioned earlier, I felt no burden, no impelling need, no mandate, and actually little desire to rock the boat. Notice I say "little," since rocking the boat can get a little exciting and I do love excitement. So clearly I had a choice, but if I chose to continue to write, teach (even without charging) and publish, I would have to do so as a testimony-holding, non-member.
     As I understood the relatively new Church policy, a simple letter of resignation is all it takes to be removed from the rolls of the Church. So after making my decision to carry the torch of sharing further enlightenment, I visited my stake president to inform him of the change in my decision. The meeting was friendly and loving on both sides. However, he explained that since I was already under probation, there would be no way to circumvent a Disciplinary Council, my resignation letter not withstanding. The choice was still mine. I could stay in the Church, but only if I continued to comply with his instructions to not distribute my book nor conduct any independent, gospel oriented workshops.
     Sadly but purposefully, and with no ill feelings whatsoever, I agreed that he would have to proceed. The court was held December 2, 1996. Since I understood the Church needs to stay where it is at this time, i.e., in the preparatory gospel, I had no desire to contend nor defend my choice. Therefore, I asked my stake president if there was any necessity for me to attend. He left it totally up to me. I asked him to give the High Council my thanks and did not attend.
     I was hand delivered my letter of excommunication for apostasy a few days later. Of course, I felt some real sadness, but also a great sense of liberation¾ freedom to do what I believe the Lord has so patiently prepared a very slow learner like me to do. That does not include any new revelations for the Church. All I have been given is a simple, clearer understanding of the scriptures from four different levels of the gospel which I explain in Chapter II. All four levels are valid and essential, each in their own way.

     There is no question in mind that my stake president is a good and loving man, and that he both loves and respects the Lord. Although he accepts full responsibility for his decisions, it is clear that he is not functioning in a vacuum and that he has full support from above him. Yet, as he freely acknowledges, he cannot understand me. He knows that I am not rebellious, disloyal nor contentious, that I love the Church and fully believe that it is truly divine. He knows that I believe the Brethren are called of the Lord and are performing "right on schedule." Yet, since he does not believe that the Church is under condemnation, it is no wonder that my book, from his point of view, is apostate. He feels no other explanation is needed.
     So why don’t I appeal? Because he is right! Water and oil do not mix. The tree of knowledge and the tree of life are mutually exclusive, even though we cannot be prepared to receive the latter until we have been dully processed by the former. That is what you will understand as we study the thrilling process of finding the mark.

     There is the old saying, "When the student is ready, the teacher appears." God is the teacher. He is also the One, and the only One, that opens the eyes of the blind, if they would be healed. I am so grateful for the degree that He has opened my eyes. Because of this, my love and testimony has increasingly deepened for His Church, for those who carry the heavy responsibilities of presiding over it, for His sacred scriptures and for the teachings and decisions of the Brethren.
     Again, let me repeat. My testimony is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's greatest work on the face of the earth, and it is led by exactly those the Lord contemplated leading it at this time. I believe they are to teach precisely what they are teaching. This fact is to me an all consuming state of knowing. It is no longer a matter of belief, it is a matter of comprehending just how our Church, which has been under such restrictive condemnation for so many years, is to eventually do ALL that it has been assigned to do.

     Neither is there any question in my mind that there are many stakes in the Church in which I would not have been subjected to a Disciplinary Council. But neither do I doubt that it was no accident that I have been in this particular Stake, under this Stake President. I really do see the hand of the Lord in all of this, just as I see His hand in everything else.
     This is the second time I have been invited out of the Church, but the first time, in 1970, I had completely lost my conviction that it was the perfect work of God. Seven years later, in 1977, the Lord led me out of my burdens of disbelief through a two hour, spiritual experience. I was given a miraculous understanding of how His hand is truly in ALL things, including the difficult events in our early Church history. That enlightening experience not only restored my testimony but greatly expanded it. A detailed account of this life changing experience will have to wait for Book IV. What I was shown about the future of His Church is the most thrilling part of what I want to share.
     May the Lord bless you as a fully active member of the Church with absolutely ALL of His abundance. You can find the mark much more safely while following the Brethren and being subject to their authority, just as Christ admonished the multitudes to do so in His day. (Matthew 23:2-3) I didn't come out from under authority to find the mark, because that is where I had already found it. I found the mark within the Church. It worked for me! It can work for you!
     I have now chosen to come out in order to proclaim the incredible news boldly and fearlessly, but, and this is important, WITHOUT AUTHORITY. That is why the Brethren should not be teaching these principles of oneness for now, for when they speak, they speak with authority, and we are under enough condemnation already.

     Since I speak with no authority, my message is not binding. As such, I am not teaching a knowledge of separateness, dividing up that which is good from that which is evil. I am teaching the infinite oneness, which is the true meaning of Christ’s divine love, including His forgiveness and non-judgmentalness. Hopefully, not many others will find it expedient to come outside to do the same. It is far better to work from within, as I have done as long as I could.

With His love, Max B. Skousen