Episode 133: Wrestling with the Restoration–Learning to Think Slow So You Know How You Know What You Know (Steven C. Harper)

Episode 133: Wrestling with the Restoration–Learning to Think Slow So You Know How You Know What You Know (Steven C. Harper)

Author: BYU Religious Education November 1, 2025 Duration: 1:06:57

In a world obsessed with speed, what if the answers we need come only when we slow down and listen? In this episode, Professor Steven C. Harper invites us to pause, reflect deeply, and attune ourselves to the voice of God. Drawing from his book Wrestling with the Restoration: Why This Church Matters, Dr. Harper combines rigorous scholarship with faith to thoughtfully address critiques of the Restoration. He explores complex questions–such as the translation of the Book of Mormon and the origin of the Book of Abraham–and counsels us to slow down and carve out time to ask, "What do I know?" and "How do I know it?" Ultimately, Dr. Harper offers practical ways for us to develop our own personal of witness of Jesus Christ and the Restoration through careful study, sincere reflection, and spiritual seeking.

Publications:

Click here to learn more about Steven C. Harper


Behind the academic papers and detailed studies produced by the faculty at Brigham Young University, there are personal journeys of faith and intellectual curiosity. Y Religion, from BYU Religious Education, opens a window into that process. Each episode sits down with the professor behind the research, moving beyond the published conclusions to explore the human questions that sparked the inquiry. Conversations delve into why a particular historical detail, scriptural insight, or theological concept demanded a closer look, and what it means for both scholarly understanding and personal belief. This isn't about dry lectures; it's about the intersection of rigorous scholarship and lived discipleship within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The podcast serves as a unique bridge, making specialized academic work accessible and relevant to anyone pondering deeper spiritual truths. You'll hear scholars articulate the challenges and rewards of their dual commitment to the mind and the heart, offering listeners a richer appreciation for the ongoing dialogue between faith and learning. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that illuminate how dedicated study can deepen, rather than distance, one's spiritual journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Y Religion
Podcast Episodes
Episode 77: Cain's Rejected Sacrifice (Shon Hopkin) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:52
Cain needs no introduction for most of us as Latter-day Saints. He hearkened to the voice of Satan and murdered his brother, Abel. However, is there more to the experience than just that great sin? Professor Shon D. Hopk…
Episode 76: Commemorating Holy Week (Eric Huntsman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:31
As Latter-day Saints, we commemorate Easter Sunday as the occasion of the Savior's Resurrection. But how often do we take time out of the week before Easter—Holy Week—and commemorate the events that happened during those…
Episode 75: Holiness to the Lord (Gaye Strathearn) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:20
In many cities around the world, the temple stands as a symbol of Christ and the purity and spiritual growth He offers. But how can we access that purifying power for ourselves—and why is it such an important goal? Profe…
Episode 74: Defining Church Doctrine (Michael Goodman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:20
Elder Robert D. Hales taught, "We need to know the official doctrine of the Church so we are not diverted from Christ's leadership." But how can we know what constitutes Church doctrine? That has been the driving questio…
Episode 73: Living the Law of Consecration (Steven Harper) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:43
How should we understand and live the law of consecration today? In this episode, Professor Steven Harper, a professor of Church history and doctrine, explains his research on the law of consecration. He articulates the…
Episode 71: Joseph Merrill, Truth Seeker (Casey Griffiths) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:30
As we seek truth, we are asked to harmonize seeming paradoxes: balance the mind and the heart; learn by study and faith; be in the world but not of the world. How do we do this? In this episode, Dr. Casey Griffiths intro…
Episode 70: A Modern Perspective on Ancient Christians (Jason Combs) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:05
It is easy to assume that the records of the early Christians fall silent after the end of the New Testament. However, abundant information exists describing the lives, faith, and sacrifices of these earliest believers,…
Episode 69: Religious Liberty and the Law (Robert Smith) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:10
Joseph Smith once said, "It is the love of liberty which inspires my soul, civil and religious liberty to the whole human race." This sentiment is equally relevant today. Dr. Robert Smith has dedicated much of his profes…
Episode 68: Orson Hyde and the Church in Jerusalem (David Whitchurch) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
In 1841, after years of sacrifice and travel, Orson Hyde arrived in Jerusalem. His brief but impactful mission had innumerable effects on the Church in the Holy Land. In this episode, Professor of Ancient Scripture David…