Shawn introduces McKenna Denson, highlighting her courageous efforts to expose hidden truths within Mormonism, and engages her in a comprehensive interview exploring her life, beliefs, and activism. The discussion is structured into four parts, covering her background, experiences with the LDS Church, decision to disclose personal information, and current perspectives on life and activism, while allowing interjections and audience questions.
Show 48 – McKenna Denson: Part I
Introduction
Welcome. Introduction of McKenna.
Text message a few months ago from McKenna. It was regarding a mutual friend of ours, Kristy Johnson, who bravely shared the horrors of her life at the hands of her daughter as an active LDS girl. Since then, McKenna has made some real marks in the books of real Mormon revelations. No, she has not been looking in a hat – her revelations are based in revealing things – in bringing things to the light – instead of concealing them in darkness. And we are gonna talk all about them now.
Word Associations
Now, strange as this may sound, I’d like to start with some word associations if you will. I’ll say one word (two in one case) and you get no more than three words to summarize your thoughts on the word you hear. Ready?
- Mormonism?
- LDS Priesthood?
- SinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.?
- Life?
- Justice?
- Repentance?
- Robert Kirby?
- Men?
- Women?
- McKenna?
- God?
Thank you.
McKenna Denson's Story
McKenna Denson – let’s kick this exhaustive interview off with you and I just kicking back, taking a deep breath, and act like we are all alone, in a restaurant or bar, and I am learning all about you – the person – here in PART ONE or our first hour. I want to know about your family heritage, grandparents, parents, earliest memories, penchants and idiosyncrasies, genetic predispositions, thoughts about God and life and things like that – from a young girl all the way up to when you joined the LDS church, and then received your call to serve a mission. We will take a break then. And then come back to Part II.
From the Mission call to the MTC and that whole scene where, if you are willing, you’ll walk us through those events at period in your life. We’ll follow up from there to post-MTC mission life, and have you sort of summarize your life post-LDS Mission to your making the choice to go public with information you kept private for so many years. We’ll take another break and then part III will consist of you stepping forward and all that has happened from that point to today.
In Part Four, I want to work backward a bit and speak to things that have to do with you and your person today – and to hear your heart of hearts toward some of the particulars of your activism, life, and hopes.
We will then open the mic up to people who might have a question for you. Along the way through these four parts I will interject questions, comments or ask for clarifications that I hope will benefit our conversation.
So, McKenna – let’s talk sister.
