Charles Lambert's manifestation of the truth of the work
Published October 5, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
Before joining the Church, Charles Lambert, a stone mason by trade, felt a deep dissatisfaction with the sectarian creeds of his day and earnestly sought the truth through fasting and prayer. While working as a stone mason in various parts of England—including Lincolnshire—he received a vision that profoundly confirmed the restoration of the Gospel to him, filling his heart with thanksgiving. Seeking guidance on where to find the people who held these truths, he learned of a branch of the Church in Louth, Lincolnshire. In July 1843, he traveled there, eventually finding and being baptized by Elder Henry Cuerdon. Lambert later immigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he worked faithfully on the Nauvoo Temple, eventually being entrusted with cutting the capstone. He personally witnessed many historic events, including the burning of the Expositor, and enjoyed a close personal acquaintance with Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Throughout his life, Lambert maintained an unwavering testimony of the divinity of their mission, frequently citing his spiritual manifestations as the foundation of his conviction.
In Their Own Words
“I wrote home for tools which was sent. There I received a letter from William Watson Stone Cutter and Carver who worked with me at Lord Howden’s, stating that the Lord had again restored the Gospel and that he had been baptized. I had a vision that prepared me for this, but the joy I was full of thanksgiving. I wrote immediately to know where to go to find some had been so blessed. An answer came stating there had been a branch organized at Louth, Lincolnshire about three weeks. This was about forty miles from where I then was. I soon up and went there. It being Saturday the market day, I being a stranger did not know where to go. I walked up and down the street, and seeing a man with a white apron on, I thought he might be a butcher, and I asked him if he knew of any Latter-day Saints. He said, 'Yes, I am one.' I told him I had come to be baptized. He said, 'You had better go and see the Elder.' He directed me to the house of Elder Henry Cuerdon. I went and found him. I told him my business. He said he would baptize me. I went with him to the water and was baptized. I felt a great change in my heart, and I knew that I had been born of the water and of the Spirit.”
— Charles Lambert, Autobiography
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 18 December 1882 (Vol. 44, No. 51). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1882-12-18_44_51 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): Autobiography of Charles Lambert, LDS Church Archives, https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/charles-lambert/ Full first-person account: Autobiography of Charles Lambert, Doctrine and Covenants Central https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/charles-lambert
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