In this two-part episode we interview the founders of MormonLeaks – Ryan McKnight ant Scott K. Fausett. According to the MormonLeaks web site:
MormonLeaks™ is a non profit media organization founded on the belief that increased transparency within the Mormon Church results in fewer untruths, less corruption, and less abuse with Mormonism. The organization provides sources and whistleblowers the technical ability to anonymously submit sensitive documents for use by professional and citizen journalists for starting and expanding news reporting, public commentary, and criticism related to Mormonism.
In part 1 of this interview, Ryan and Scott discuss their lives as multi-decade orthodox LDS church members. Ryan discusses what it was like to be raised in the Mormon church in South America (as son of a U.S. federal worker), and Scott relates what it was like to try to live the orthodox Mormon life as a gay man — including serving a mission, marrying a woman, having three kids, serving in stake-level callings, and experiencing multiple disciplinary councils for same-sex sexual activity. Ryan and Scott conclude part 1 discussing what caused their ultimate disaffection from Mormonism.
In part 2, Ryan and Scott discuss the founding of MormonLeaks. They also review the main documents released by MormonLeaks, the impact MormonLeaks has had, and the embarrassingly unprofessional journalism conducted by Tad Walch of the Deseret News in covering MormonLeaks.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 1:
Part 2:
10 Responses
After hearing this podcast, I went and researched Tad Welch. My conclusion is…Tad Welch is gunning for a position as Trumps personal news reporter. It seems to me that he’s only good at reporting #fakenews. Which is great when working for the current president, because of his amazing ability of being this country’s #FakePresident.
I’m writing this through tears of joy and sadness. I was jealous of Scott Fausett as a teen and on my mission because I was pretty sure my Mom loved him more than me – not literally, but sometimes I wondered. I didn’t live near the Fausett’s, but in my Mom’s work she was in their community regularly. She would tell me about this great family and especially this kid, Scott, who was just a year younger than me.
Scott is such a good scout, he works so hard, he’s so smart, his family is so amazing and while I didn’t doubt Scott and his family were all that, it came across to me as her way of saying why can’t you be more like him. I wasn’t an eagle scout and I think she was concerned about my commitment to the church. It hurt. I hadn’t met the kid and I didn’t like him.
I was in Norway in the last 6-8 months of my mission when my Mom starts writing me about how Scott got his call to Norway and how she is so happy we can serve together, etc. I was in the mission office when Scott arrived which was the first time I met him. I was predisposed to not like him and even tried not to warm up to him. I couldn’t though, he was a smart, ambitious guy. He was outgoing and worked hard. I didn’t get to know him that well, but I respected him and liked him.
I was also pretty certain he was gay. Not sure why I thought that, but that was my distinct impression. While I didn’t tell anyone of my suspicion, I took a sick satisfaction in the thought that this guy my Mom thought was so great was gay. I was raised in a fairly small Utah city, in an orthodox Mormon family so at that time I thought of being gay as a disease and weakness. So, my Mom could love him all she wants, but if my suspicions were accurate she wouldn’t love him nearly as much.
I don’t say that to denigrate my Mom who is one of the most loving people I know, but she has some firm beliefs that would make it hard for her to feel the same way about Scott if she had known he was gay. I also am ashamed that I felt the way I did. That I looked at homosexuality in that way and that I was smug, feeling superior to Scott because I wasn’t gay.
Since that time I have resigned from the church and I am so happy and at peace living an authentic life. I am not gay and I don’t want to suggest that my struggle was on par with Scott’s or others who grew up gay in the church, but I recognize the self loathing and feelings of never being able to be what is expected. Hearing Scott’s story today brought me to tears both from hearing of his pain and struggle, but also to hear of the peace he has found.
I know this doesn’t have anything to do with MormonLeaks, but I was too touched by hearing Scott’s story to not say anything. Thank you Scott for sharing and all the best to you. John thank you for providing the forum for this type discussion.
That “confirmed homosexual” thing is how the so-called Brethren show their disdain for certain groups of people. They probably know that gay people prefer to be referred to as gay or maybe LGBT. To refer to a disdained group as they wish to be referred to is beneath the so-called Brethren, as is most everything. Elder Packer said the LDS Church faced dangers from three groups: gays, feminists and “so-called scholars or intellectuals,” and you can find many instances in conference speeches and other talks by leaders of the so-called Church attempting to delegitimatize groups of people by referring to them as “so-called” feminists or so-called LGBT or whatever. To Dallin Oaks and the so-called Brethren to learn that someone is a “confirmed homosexual” explains everything; they can, at that point, be dismissed.
Billion dollar church/business/real estate holdings etc. and your telling me they only make 120,000 a year?? I would venture to say by the stronghold they have on this information that through the businesses they have, and set on boards to the ensign advisor group connected to the romneys/boyers etc. they all make millions a year. Those who have made comments that we should stay out and its none of our business, well think about this, Im 45 and have given up until a few years ago hundreds of thousand in tithing, your telling me I dont deserve an explanation? You guys are so naive and gullable in the church. By the way Im still in because of tradition and family, You guys should read dammon smiths the book of mammon, a real insider that works at the church. I also have a guy that is high up in the church in my area, goes to hawaii every year,,,, lives in a mansion in our ward… The only way and ever the church can make this right is to pay restitution to every one of us members by sharing in the billions and telling the truth about its history. basically saying we are just a church like everyone else…. absolute BULL…. and i will never forget my poor mom paying tithing and barely having food on the table for us as a single lady.
I agree that the 15 are paid A LOT more than $120,000 per year. However they are compensated, what they receive is tax free. It’s the same tax scam they use for Mission Presidents.
From a land far, far away across the sea, thank you once again to Mormon Stories for enlightening us and warming our coldcold hearts! Ryan (and now Scott), you inspire us in our efforts to reach out to the marginalised, and to do what we can, where we are, to stop the bitter and outdated teachings and attitudes of the past.
May we always come with love in our hearts for the young and vulnerable, as well as for the old and misguided.
In the name of whatever soothes the bruised spirit.
Amen
What happened to #711-714? I listened to it in full and it was fascinating. But now I can’t find it. Did the church threaten Trevor with discipline?
My question for the LDS church is now that these issues have been admitted what is the organization going to do to correct the record? The narrative I was taught is full of half truths at best. As far as I can see they still aren’t teaching the history accurately even though they have released the facts in a secret hiding place on the lds.org website. Don’t lie to my children. If you are going to tell a story, tell it correctly or don’t tell it at all. I thought honesty was the best policy.
Thanks John for all your work. It has helped my family a lot.
Here’s your quote from the Bible dictionary on faith:
“All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.”
What happened to the last podcast with Trevor?? I was SOOO excited to watch this!! Can you please put it back up? Or at least parts of it? Why was it taken down? I’m always fascinated that the leaders say that they are” transparent”, “an open book”, “the truth should be told and they have nothing to hide”…. yet we would never be able to hear them actually speak and answer questions. Trevor was providing so many of us an interview that we would LOVE to hear. Kudos to Trevor for being willing to help so many people with the same questions that will never get answered. Thank you Trevor, you seem like a very intellectual guy and we all wish you the best.
Well, let’s get real about pretending that TRANSPARENCY regarding LDS, Inc. is not Anti-Mormon.
An institution that can be described accurately as: 1) a colossal fraud, and 2) a mind control cult, must intrinsically rely on obfuscation and deception to keep the cash cow scam operating and thriving. Isn’t that how you spell the opposite of transparency?
The very LAST thing the “Only True Church” wants to happen is the disclosure of carefully concealed Truth about itself.
Ryan and Scott are fully aware that TRANSPARENCY can only be 99% destructive to the goals and agenda of The Brethren. They are already fully transparent regarding disclosure (and exaggeration) of Church behaviors that paint LDS, Inc. in an allegedly positive light.
The word “leak” succinctly describes information otherwise intended to be “contained” (not leaked) for very good reasons. Poking holes in that container without permission is an overt act of aggression, which in this case, could not be more justifiably deserved.
Kudos to Ryan and Scott for making it more difficult than ever for The Brethren to continue hiding their core values and true nature from the light of public scrutiny.