Distrust Archives - Public Square Magazine

Reporters sift redacted pages after the Epstein files release.

The Conspiracy That Wasn’t

C.D. Cunningham2 weeks ago06 mins

The Epstein files provide a stress test for decades of anti-Mormon conspiracy theories. What can believers and critics alike take from the lack of damning church revelations?

A public library after school, teens playing board games at a table, a phone basket on a counter, bookshelves behind, sunlight through windows, relaxed faces and conversation. Social media regulation pairs with offline institutions that make real community easier.

Less Feed, More Life

C.D. Cunningham4 weeks ago4 weeks ago09 mins

What would help Americans scroll less? Friction, privacy limits, and offline defaults could shift behavior at scale.

A tidy study with a closed Bible on a desk beside an open laptop showing a podcaster on a video feed, the chair slightly pulled back as if someone just stood up.

The Most Corrosive Claim in American Politics: “Everything You’ve Been Told Is Wrong”

Dan Ellsworth1 month ago1 month ago08 mins

Does anti-elite media sharpen or shatter judgment? Extremist talking heads destabilize reality and easing moral inversion.

Silhouetted Figures on a Black Bridge Against a Background of Vibrant Abstract Shapes | The Religious Bigotry Mormons Face

Subtle Bigotry: How ‘Polite’ Society Marginalizes Latter-day Saints

C.D. Cunningham1 year ago11 months ago07 mins

What are anti-Mormon dog whistles? Explore how words or phrases can subtly reinforce bigotry and hinder authentic discourse.

Mob Attacking Joseph Smith at Carthage Jail | The First Presidential Candidate Assassination: Joseph Smith Jr. | Public Square Magazine | Joseph Smith Assassination

The First Presidential Candidate Assassination Ignored by History

Derek Sainsbury2 years ago1 year ago012 mins

What lessons does Joseph Smith Jr.’s assassination teach? It warns of the danger of partisanship and media manipulation.

The wake of a boat representing the effects of the Tim Ballard allegations

In the Wake of Scandal: Tim Ballard and the Latter-day Saints

C.D. Cunningham2 years ago2 years ago012 mins

When heroes like Tim Ballard face allegations, it shakes public trust and prompts reevaluation of beliefs. The fallibility of influencers, especially within religious communities, reveals the danger of elevating individuals over core principles.

Unraveling Trust in the North American Church

Tom Stringham4 years ago3 years ago011 mins

Latter-day Saints enjoy high levels of social trust in their communities thanks to shared beliefs and values. This is a blessing, but it has made us vulnerable to bad actors who misrepresent their beliefs.

Tolerating the Unprecedented

Robert M. Daines5 years ago4 years ago09 mins

It’s more than mere disagreement we must tolerate. Tolerance means bearing the suffering of others and taking our own uncomfortable turn in history to face uncertainty and challenge.