We Need to Talk About Bruno + Today’s Digest

Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around.

Public Square Bulletin recommends:

How can Vladimir Putin be described as a defender of Christian values?

Michael Cook – Mercator Net

There is much Christian rhetoric that has come from the Kremlin regarding the war in Ukraine. And the religious elements of the conflict run deep. But some American commentators have started to frame Putin as an ideal Christian. Michael Cook argues that this goes much too far.

Along the religion beat: Should ‘mainstream media’ pundits take sides on church disputes?

Richard Ostling – Get Religion

Richard Ostling responds to a recent article in Real Clear Religion that asks New York Times journalists David Brooks and Ross Douthat to stop writing op-eds on religious issues. Ostling believes there is already too little coverage of religion issues.

The Power of Laughter

Aleah Ingram – LDS Daily

Tomorrow’s “Daily Dose” at LDS Daily appropriately looks at humor for April Fool’s day and looks at the gospel need for joy in our lives.

Transitioning from Science to Philosophy

Joachim Ostermann – Church Life Journal

Biochemist turned Franciscan Friar, Joachim Ostermann, looks at his work in the sciences and examines the philosophical underpinnings that were all too often missing from his understanding.

We Need to Talk About Bruno

Ryan McDonald – The Gospel Coalition

A look at one of the most popular films of the year and it’s gospel themes. McDonald sees in Bruno a type of Jesus Christ. His thoughts should add to the already deep themes of forgiveness and family present in the film.

The Final Lesson of Peacemaking: Ask Better Questions

Health

Primum Non Nocere: A Berlin Museum’s Warning Against Silence

Gospel Fare

The Day the Blame Game Named My Sister

Our Culture of Contempt

Four Corners

What Past Attacks on Mormons and Catholics Teach Us About the Threat to Muslims

C.D. Cunningham

“Surviving Mormonism” and the Real Story of Institutional Harm

Are Surviving Mormonism’s stories typical? Comparative data show rare failures in an institution ahead on reform.

Dan Ellsworth

Church Choirs and the Sound of Belonging: Where Harmony Still Exists

Why do ward choirs matter? They build unity, model male-female harmony, bridge communities, and teach belonging.

Jeff Bennion

When Law Meets Love: Dallin H. Oaks’ Ministry to Sexual and Gender Minorities

Dallin H. Oaks pairs law with love, showing humility, outreach, and a call to hold truth with tenderness.

Jacob Z. Hess

Why are Some Latter-day Saints Hesitant to Talk about the Family Proclamation?

The Family Proclamation is beloved by members around the world. So why are some afraid to talk about it?

Cassandra Hedelius

Motherhood, Mortality, and the Myth of Control

A near-death experience at 39 leads a mother to challenge her perceptions of entitlement, faith, and mortality.

CATEGORIES

Putin’s Thousand-Year War

A figure reflecting on their fragmented self during pornography addiction recovery, symbolizing the challenge of reclaiming a true sense of identity.

The Misguided Self: How Individualism Fuels Compulsive Pornography Use

Why is overcoming CPU difficult? Deeply ingrained cultural habits mislead individuals, fueling the behavior.

Dubai’s Sikh Leaders Visit First Presidency + Today’s Digest

Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around. Public Square Bulletin recommends: Sikh Leaders from Dubai Meet with First Presidency Church Newsroom Surender and Bubbles Kandhari visited with the First Presidency yesterday. The two Sikh leaders from the United Arab Emirates spoke about the love they felt during their visit. National Day of Prayer Primer To celebrate the National Day of Prayer, be sure to head over and check out our article listing some of the best things we’ve read about prayer. Faith, Doubt, and Murder in ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ Sergio Lopez —Sojourners While there has been no shortage of think pieces about Under the Banner of Heaven, including in our own magazine, I wanted to direct your attention to a particularly thoughtful piece in Sojourners. While Lopez misses the tone-deaf elements that miss our faith, he recognizes some of the thoughtful questions it asks. America’s Blue-Red Divide Is About to Get Starker Ronald Brownstein — The Atlantic Since we had published a piece suggesting that the end of Roe could lead to greater unity, I wanted to direct your attention to this piece predicting the opposite result. Brownstein’s basic thesis is that as states have more distinct abortion laws, our country will be more different from state to state.

Bunge Church in Gotland, Sweden | The Weeknd's Satanic Gesture at the Super Bowl | Symbolism in the Halftime Show

The Challenge of Chosenness

With a new year comes a new focus of study for Latter-day Saints—and an opportunity to think more expansively about what “the Church” is.