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鈥淚 Am鈥 Statements in the Book of Mormon
Throughout the Book of Mormon, the Savior pronounces fifty-three 鈥淚 am鈥 statements as he details his purpose and declares his divine identity. In 2 Nephi 29: 8 鈥 9 he explains that he does so for a particular reason, 鈥淲herefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. [鈥. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever [鈥鈥 (emphasis added). In this next episode Dr. Joshua M. Matson, assistant professor of ancient scripture, discusses his recent article 鈥淐oming to Know Christ through the 鈥業 Am鈥 Statements in the Book of Mormon鈥 and explains the significant presence of these statements in the Bible and Restoration scriptures. He outlines how the Savior utilizes two forms of 鈥淚 am鈥 statements鈥metaphorical (depicting what he does) and absolute (his titles or depicting who he is)鈥攖hroughout the scriptures to proclaim his role and character. Professor Matson explains that the 鈥淚 am鈥 statements in the Book of Mormon serve as another witness of Jesus Christ, alongside similar 鈥淚 am鈥 statements presented in the Old and New Testaments, and that they are spoken by both the premortal Jehovah and the resurrected Jesus Christ. In studying the 鈥淚 am鈥 statements we may come to know the Savior in his own words and through his own perspective.
Publications
- 鈥淐oming to Know Christ through the 鈥業 Am鈥 Statements in the Book of Mormon鈥 (in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- (BYU Studies, 2024)
- 鈥淭he Fourth Gospel and Expectations of the Jewish Messiah鈥 (in Thou Art the Christ, the Son of the Living God: The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2018)
- 鈥淐ovenants, Kinship, and Caring for the Destitute in the Book of Amos鈥 (in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- (in The Journal of the School of Religious Studies, Vol. 48, McGill University, 2020
- Personal Website
Click to learn more about Joshua M. Matson
