Y Religion Episode 133: Wrestling with the Restoration–Learning to Think Slow So You Know How You Know What You Know (Steven C. Harper)
Nov 1, 2025
Steven C. Harper, a historian and BYU professor, dives deep into early Latter-day Saint history and the complexities of the Restoration. He emphasizes the need to slow down in a fast-paced world to truly understand faith. The conversation tackles topics like the translation intricacies of the Book of Mormon and the historical context of the Book of Abraham. Harper also explores how our conceptions of God shape belief and the connection between Masonry and the temple endowment. Personal witness and spiritual seeking emerge as key components of understanding.
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Default To Fast Thinking
- Humans default to mental shortcuts that create illusions of knowledge when facing complex questions.
- Steven C. Harper argues we must learn to think slowly to know what we know and how we know it.
Pause Before Accepting Fast Answers
- Identify when you are replacing a hard question with a simpler heuristic and pause.
- Deliberately apply slow, systematic thinking until you know what you know and how you know it.
Student Email Clarifies God’s Change
- A student asked why Joseph Smith's portrayal of God changing conflicts with scriptures saying God doesn't change.
- Slow, textual study showed 'God doesn't change' refers to covenant faithfulness while other passages depict change.
