Welcome to the Spring 2026 issue of SquareTwo! We had an excellent lineup for you.
First Holly Hamilton-Bleakley, professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego, discusses how the body of Christ is at the heart of the Atonement. Embodiment has not typically been part of the conversation about that crowning act of divine mercy. In contrast to Hellenic notions of death as a great escape from the bonds of embodiment, Christ valued his embodiment and ours—so much so that he laid down his embodied life in order to take up his embodiment once more. Conquering death, Christ assures our eternal embodiment.
Second, Susan Madsen, professor of leadership at Utah State University, asks an uncomfortable but vital question: why are rates of male violence against women still so high in Utah? Such violence imperils all that we hold dear: families, freedom, human rights, democracy. And yet it is treated as a common and unremarkable problem. Madsen encourages us to do better, and more specifically, asks if there are things that religious denominations can do to help address this bleeding wound to our society.
Third, Ashley Alley has just undergone one of the most important experiences that a daughter of our Heavenly Parents can have: she has given birth to her first child. Alley discusses how crossing that Rubicon has modified and deepened her understandings of concepts she once encountered in a more abstract fashion. Now those spiritual concepts have, in a sense, been made flesh, and her insights will uplift.
Fourth, Meg Rittmanic offers a combination film review and scriptural exegesis about the new animated film on the life of David. Rittmanic persuasively asserts that the movie is shot through with references to what she calls “the Divine Team,” that is, our Heavenly Mother and our Heavenly Fathers. Her deep dive into the meaning of symbols and terms used to describe that Team will intrigue you.
Fifth, Ryan Strong suggests that the modern academy’s dismissal of knowledge which is not empirically based or peer-approved is short-sighted. Strong uncovers for us that neither “empirics” nor “peer review” are all they are cracked up to be. As a result, our society can be led astray in ways that seem incredible in retrospect.
Sixth, our intrepid book review editor, Emilee Pugh Bell, reviews the book Seattle Pioneer Midwife, which rescues the life of Alice Ada Wood Ellis from the slipstream of history. She lived during the Gold Rush days, and opened a midwife practice catering to the needs of prostituted women. Bell notes that this is one of the few books that records the name and details of the lives of these women who remain invisible in our history books.
Last, we have our editorial board’s responses to our previous Readers’ Puzzle on spiritual discernment, and we also have our new Readers’ Puzzle, asking whether our readers believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should do more about male violence against women in their congregations, and if so, what steps might be taken.
Enjoy this fine new issue!
Full Citation for this Article: Editorial Board, SquareTwo Journal (2026) "Editors’ Intro, Spring 2026," SquareTwo, Vol. 19 No. 1 (Spring 2026), http://squaretwo.org/EditorsIntroSpring2026.html, accessed <give access date>.
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