Derrick Clements
Audio editor, sound designer, and podcast producer
McKenna Denson (left) is pictured at the Provo Missionary Training Center in 1984. Image courtesy of Jessica Lowder, with permission by McKenna Denson.
How does the Mormon concept of obedience shed light on this complex, difficult story?
"Do You Know Who I Am?” (00:00-28:40) — A sister missionary confronts her MTC president on tape, she obtains a confession, and the tape gets out.
“In Her Words” (28:40-54:43) — McKenna Denson describes her decision to confront Joseph Bishop and what she experienced during the meeting.
“Dossier” (54:43-01:29:37) — A conversation with Denson's biological daughter Jessica Lowder, who was brought into this story after she was named on a dossier compiled by a lawyer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an apparent attempt to undermine Denson's credibility.
How has the church responded to emerging facts — both "the church" as a collection of individual believers, as well as the corporate institution based in Salt Lake City?
“‘This Former Church Member’” (0:00-34:47) — McKenna Denson tells her story of conversion to the LDS church and how her faith changed after the MTC. Plus, Lindsay Hansen Park offers analysis of the LDS church’s institutional response to her story. What does this response suggest about the institution's own competing priorities?
“Paradigm Shifts” (34:47-56:35) — How have Mormons reacted to details of McKenna’s story in their private experiences of faith? Nicole Jensen explains how the story has triggered some Mormon paradigms to shift, like coming to see the LDS church as a corporation, or reevaluating church authority. How, in particular, are other Mormon survivors of abuse processing the news?
“Belief Unto Repentance” (56:35-1:08:22) — A call to repentance. Featuring excerpts from a 2002 talk by former LDS general Relief Society leader Chieko Okazaki.