Public Square Magazine

Public Square Magazine is built on the belief that meaningful civic spaces are essential to nurture and protect. Our mission is to bring together, uplift, and empower thoughtful voices to connect with a wide audience. We share compelling, truthful, and well-researched content that aims to enhance public dialogue. Although we are interested in political matters, we do not identify as a political entity. We value culture deeply but remain independent from any cultural constraints. Our roots in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shape our editorial perspective and principles, motivating us to create an inclusive environment that welcomes diverse voices from various faiths and moral viewpoints. We are dedicated to the idea that open dialogue can build understanding, and we strive to facilitate impactful conversations that aim for the greater good. Public Square Magazine is a collaborative effort supported by the Elizabeth McCune Institute and the John A. Widtsoe Foundation. The Elizabeth McCune Institute focuses on exploring faith in public life. Led by Lynn Chapman, who has a Ph.D. in public policy from George Mason University, he has experience in various sectors, including a role as interim editor for Deseret News and serving on the MWAA board in Washington, D.C. He has also held the position of vice-chair on the board of trustees for Southern Virginia University. The John A. Widtsoe Foundation operates as a Latter-day Saints study program at the University of Southern California. It examines how the Church and its members interact with the contemporary world. The foundation is establishing the John A. Widtsoe Chair of Latter-day Saint Studies and serves as a hub for visiting scholars, graduate students, interfaith projects, and academic conferences at USC.

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The Room Next Door Review

Jan 23, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | C.D. Cunningham

“The Room Next Door” is the latest example of arthouse social engineering. The film is about a troubled woman, Martha, who in the midst of cancer treatments decides to commit suicide. If this bothers you, the film implies, it is because there is something wrong with you. This is all the more troubling, because the film, in many ways, is beautiful. It is directed by Pedro Almodóvar, one of the most acclaimed living film directors, in his first full-length film in English.
When Did We Stop Trusting the Media? A Review of "September 5"

Jan 16, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | C.D. Cunningham

When did we begin to lose trust in the news media? There are plenty of theories. Some suggest March 6, 1981, Walter Cronkite’s last broadcast. Others suggest it was the coverage of President Bill Clinton’s perjury and impeachment. Others suggest it was the advent of 24-hour news stations. The newest film from Paramount Pictures suggests another option in its title, “September 5.” September 5, 1972, is the day that the Black Sabbath militant group kidnapped Israeli Olympic athletes.
Faith, Hope, and BYU: Sandra's Inspiring Journey

Jan 10, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | Loren Marks

All four of Sandra’s grandparents had divorced at least once, long before she was old enough to understand what divorce even meant. In the case of one grandparent, the number of divorces would eventually reach 10. Complicit in those divorces were various forms of infidelity and addictions to drugs and alcohol. Sandra knew early on that she wanted something very different in her life.
American Primeval: A Disturbing Take on Brigham Young’s History

Jan 9, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | C.D. Cunningham

Imagine, if you will, a historical epic set in the time of the Roman Empire. Our main characters are fictional, trying to navigate a time of brutality. You’ve got characters in the Roman Legion who find themselves in skirmishes with worshipers of Mithras. You’ve got political scenes of Emperor Tiberius working with senators. But you’ve also got some up-and-comer named Constantine in the court. So as an audience member, you know they’re obviously playing around with the historicity a bit.
Faithful and LGBT+: A Path to Joy Within the Gospel

Jan 2, 2025 | publicsquaremag.org | Skyler Sorensen

New Book Group: “Exclude Not Thyself: Thriving As A Covenant-keeping, Gay Latter-day Saint”Growing up as a gay Latter-day Saint in the early 2000s presented unique challenges—but not the ones you might expect. Unlike many stories that you might hear in the media, I did not experience religious trauma or blame God for my circumstances. Instead, I struggled with a lack of resources that could give me alternatives to misguided worldly influences and hold fast to my Savior.
Why Population Decline Is the Next Global Crisis

Dec 20, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | Jeff Bennion

This is Part 4 in our Family Proclamation Series. You can review our last article in the series: The Family: The Past, The Present, The Future by Robert L. MilletAs a child of the 70s and 80s, I vividly remember the fears and controversies roiling the United States and Western Europe. Two dangers dominated the airwaves, one more dramatic than the other, but both equally dire in their fatal finality. The first was the total destruction of advanced civilization via nuclear war.
Family-Friendly Films That Go Beyond Entertainment

Nov 27, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | C.D. Cunningham

I love watching a good movie. And I’m hardly the only one among my fellow Latter-day Saints. In the thirteen articles of faith, there are many beliefs attributed to Latter-day Saints, but only one behavior, “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”We are seekers—specifically seekers of the good and beautiful. In our social conversation, no cultural product is discussed more than the movie.
Does Heretic Movie Imply Atheism Always Wins?

Nov 18, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | Mariah Proctor

Heretic, the new horror film from A24, which centers around the ill-fated visit of two sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to a seemingly innocuous cottage in the woods, has inspired a strange and singular phenomenon. Rarely when we view a film with a villain who has total disregard for human dignity and life do we come away feeling that what the villain expressed must also be the opinions of the filmmakers themselves.
The Dark Truth Behind the 2024 Olympics Dionysus Ceremony

Nov 11, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | Daniel Frost

In a world marred with conflict, division, and war, can the ancient Greek god Dionysus help us find peace? Apparently, the organizers of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games thought so. Though most of the controversy surrounding the Opening Ceremonies has focused on whether the tableau of Dionysus and drag performers was a parody of Davinci’s The Last Supper, it’s worth pausing for a moment to engage the overt message that organizers were trying to share.
What’s Driving Latter-day Saint Voters in the 2024 Election?

Nov 1, 2024 | publicsquaremag.org | C.D. Cunningham

Public Square Magazine seeks to understand the perspective of Latter-day Saints on issues of importance in the public square. Since helping to start the magazine, I’ve had the chance to examine the intersection of faith and politics and observe how and why Latter-day Saints vote as they do. Since the 2016 election cycle, curiosity about what motivates Latter-day Saint voters has spiked.