Community Archives - Public Square Magazine

A couple in a church fellowship hall works together to sort donated items at a food drive. Strong Black families link faith and stewardship through anonymous giving and community service.

The Service Ethic Behind Strong Black Families

Antonius Skipper2 weeks ago010 mins

Researchers find that for many Black married couples, faith turns service into stewardship—building stronger homes by lifting neighbors and communities.

Choosing Parenthood, the Hard Joy

Ray Alston3 weeks ago07 mins

Parenthood is often framed as optional and exhausting. But what do we gain by taking a more eternal view?

A roofline under gray skies with several crows perched along the ridge, one crow pecking near a skylight, a gutter visibly clogged with wet leaves and peanut shells, early morning light. Peacemaking grows harder when daily irritations pile up like debris.

The Continuous, Habitual Struggle for Peace

Samuel B. Hislop1 month ago07 mins

How can conflict be redeemed? The answer is slow, practiced love that resists pride and chooses reconciliation.

A student isolated on a court while peers whisper, symbolizing the cruelty of blame culture.

The Day the Blame Game Named My Sister

Timothy Smith3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

What ends othering and blame? Loyal defense of family, respect across faiths, and small acts of shared service.

A Mormon choir performs joyfully in a bright LDS chapel, showing unity, harmony, and belonging.

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

Dan Ellsworth4 months ago011 mins

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

A crocodile threatening a heart symbolizes how conflict resolution strategies protect relationships from destruction.

Disagreement: Three Steps toward Relationship Conservation

Skyline5 months ago07 mins

What saves relationships so they can endure disputes? Separating issues, practicing repair, and meeting deeper needs renew peace.

Families gather in clusters in a town square, representing the family proclamation by divine design.

Announcing Our New Anthology: What God Hath Joined

Daniel Frost5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

An anthology of essays marks the 30th anniversary of the Proclamation, celebrating divine design and family.

An older woman and a young protester laugh together near a flag, revealing joy and connection in pursuit of a more perfect union.

We the People, A Zion People: Healing the Divide with Covenant Community

Amanda Freebairn8 months ago08 mins

What would it take to form a more perfect union? Rejecting outrage, loving neighbors, and renewing civic and spiritual bonds.

A woman leaves for the bus as a child watches, capturing the emotional shift in the Lilo and Stitch remake.

Disney’s Family Values: When Ohana Becomes Optional

C.D. Cunningham9 months ago08 mins

Does sacrifice still define family? The new Lilo & Stitch shifts to community care over self-denial.

A man tenderly lifts a disabled woman, expressing how to feel God's love through gentle, Christlike acts of service.

The Savior’s Love Isn’t Earned Through Service—But It’s Revealed Through It

Ray Alston11 months ago06 mins

Where is the Savior’s love felt this Easter? In humble acts of service and the grace of being served.

A warm community scene reflecting Mormons and violence with harmonious interactions.

A Peaceable People: Why Latter-day Saints Are Less Violent than the General Population

C.D. Cunningham11 months ago11 months ago09 mins

Latter-day Saints are a notably peaceful people. What keeps their communities nonviolent?

A survivor of sexual abuse in the Church finds comfort as a friend offers a shoulder to lean on, symbolizing the power of compassion and support.

Understanding the California Sex Abuse Lawsuit: The LDS Church’s Response in Context

C.D. Cunningham11 months ago010 mins

Are the California lawsuits proof of systemic failure? The numbers indicate otherwise, but every case warrants scrutiny.