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The Mormon Church Sent Me to One of the Most Dangerous Places on Earth

Shownote

Raised in a deeply devout Mormon family in Idaho, Kyson Dana was taught from childhood that serving a mission was not a choice but a sacred duty and a defining milestone of a faithful life. When he was called to serve in southwest Russia, he believed he had been specially chosen by God to bring people the only path to salvation. Mission training reinforced the idea that success or failure depended entirely on a missionary’s faith and worthiness, leaving little room to question the church’s decisions or the dangers of the assignment.  Once in Russia, the reality was far different from what he had been prepared for.  Click here to watch on YouTube [https://youtu.be/YbhKUZfEmjY] Watch Kyson’s film: “The dark side of my Mormon Mission” [https://youtu.be/Im4p0jjYGxw?si=JWeHmm2mKuczEk1a]  Support Kyson! Yt: https://www.youtube.com/@kysondana  [https://www.youtube.com/@kysondana] IG: https://www.instagram.com/kysondana/  [https://www.instagram.com/kysondana/] Website: secondnatureclub.com [http://secondnatureclub.com] Subscribe to our C2C "CLIPS" Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@CultstoConsciousnessClip] Support C2C - Any donations are welcome and appreciated to support the making of this podcast. Find our FULL (uncensored) merch store here! [https://cults-to-consciousness-shop.fourthwall.com/en-usd] Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness [https://www.patreon.com/cultstoconsciousness] Venmo @sheliseann Find us on Social media! Instagram @cultstoconsciousness [https://www.instagram.com/cultstoconsciousness]  Host Instagram @sheliseann  [https://www.instagram.com/sheliseann/] Co Producer / Host @jonathan.rosales_  [https://www.instagram.com/jonathan.rosales_] TikTok @cults.to.consciousness  [http://cults.to.consciousness] Twitter @cultstocon [https://twitter.com/cultstocon]  **Disclaimer: This podcast provides a platform for guests to share their personal experiences and opinions. The views expressed are solely those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or producers. Any allegations discussed are unverified and represent personal accounts only. All individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. The podcast assumes no legal responsibility for statements made by guests.** See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Highlights

In this episode, Kyson Dana shares his harrowing experience as a Mormon missionary in southwest Russia, revealing the stark contrast between his devout upbringing and the dangerous reality he faced. From witnessing violence to enduring psychological manipulation, Kyson's story exposes the high-control nature of missions and the profound impact on his mental health, ultimately leading to his deconstruction and healing.
10:01
Assigning higher meaning to trauma can be a red flag.
27:21
I witnessed a fatal stabbing in a pedestrian tunnel.
48:18
I told him to accept death for the celestial kingdom.
55:34
Leaving is technically possible but psychologically impossible.
1:07:00
I later recognized them as PTSD symptoms from my high-demand mission experience.
1:25:19
Leaving high-control groups allows for a fuller, more authentic human experience.

Chapters

A Devout Upbringing and the Call to Russia
00:00
First Encounters with Danger and Disillusionment
15:26
Facing Violence and the Church's Negligence
29:21
Psychological Control and Suppressed Grief
50:50
Mental Health Crisis and the Struggle to Return
1:02:33
Deconstructing Faith and Rebuilding a New Life
1:09:08

Transcript

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