Like a detective examining a case, civil policeman Gordon Williams studied information about the Church. As the evidence piled up during that inquiry 36 years ago, he concluded that the Church's teachings were true, and he and his wife, Margaret, changed their lives to conform with those teachings.

"It has been an incredible story of where we were - just drifting on in life, and suddenly the gospel comes along and takes over our whole lives," he reflected.Pres. Williams, 61, recently released bishop of the Spen Valley Ward, Huddersfield England Stake, is the newly called president of the Scotland Edinburgh Mission. Pres. and Sister Williams are among the 91 new mission presidents and their wives who will attend the annual Mission Presidents Seminar June 21-24 at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.

The new mission presidents will serve in some 21 states and 33 nations, beginning their three-year terms of service about July 1.

Pres. Williams and the other new mission presidents will take a sharp change of direction in their lives to devote all their "heart, might, mind and strength" to missionary service. (D&C 4:2.)

Many years of experience have prepared Pres. and Sister Williams for their assignment. His first contact with the Church came on a Sunday in 1959. He was a "bobby" walking a beat in the Batley area of West Yorkshire in England. The subject of religion interested him because as a policeman he was often approached by representatives of various religions.

"They wanted to bend my ear, wondering what my faith was. I was probably a sitting duck to talk to. So I became curious, really, why there were so many religions. It wasn't a curiosity born of spiritual wonderment, it was almost like a detective examining an issue. Gradually, I amassed evidence from different churches."

One Sunday, he was on a beat where he often stopped to visit with a garage owner and his son. Lately, the son, Peter Burnett, hadn't been to the garage on Sundays. So when the officer saw him hurriedly climbing out of his work overalls, he asked the young mechanic where he was off to in such haste.

"He said he was going to Church," recalled Pres. Williams. "I asked him which one, and he said the Mormons. So I asked for some literature. He'd only just joined two months ago and was a stake missionary. He gave me a handful of leaflets, all of which I read. The one that really converted me was `Friendly Discussion' by Ben E. Rich."

The policeman and his wife received the missionary lessons from Peter Burnett and his companion, Arthur Gregory. Two full-time missionaries, Elders Keith Sorensen and Sam Longbotham, assisted the stake missionaries.

One experience during that period came as the policeman and mechanic talked about the small donations that local congregations continually requested from their parishioners.

"I thought it was horrific that they should ask me to give. A guy [from a local congregation] was anxious that we were signed up to give a few pence a week; it was very little, really."

So the policeman asked his friend what he thought of churches always requesting money. Pres. Williams recalled that the stake missionary gulped and said, "Well there is something I need to tell you." He then taught the principle of tithing.

"I said, `Well, that is fantastic.' He couldn't believe that I could deny a church that wanted a few cents a week, but accept a Church that was asking a tenth of my wage."

Brother Williams was baptized on Aug. 22, 1959, at the Bradford Branch in what was soon to be the Leeds England Stake in northcentral England. Sister Williams was baptized a month later.

In his first visit to priesthood meeting after his baptism, he noticed the quorum president was talking about assigning a series of three lessons to a small, young-appearing man. "I thought he was a little boy, so I said, `I'll take that assignment.' "

So, by his second week in the Church, the new convert was teaching the priesthood quorum.

Shortly, Brother Williams was called to serve in the Young Men program, a challenging position where he worked with a number of young men who had been recently baptized. "One had to have terrific patience, and spend lot of time looking after the young people," he said.

Brother Williams soon found that the amount of time required in his calling conflicted with his work as a police officer. After fasting and praying, he eventually changed careers and began selling woodworking machinery, an occupation that has taken him to many parts of the world. Callings continued to come his way.

"I was called as Sunday School president, then as stake Young Men president, then they made me counselor in a bishopric, a high councilor, bishop and then counselor in a stake presidency. They never let me hold any position longer than two years."

His friend and stake missionary, Peter Burnett, served with him in the bishopric and stake presidency.

While in the stake presidency, he felt impressed to prepare spiritually by fasting and praying. "Then my stake president, Dennis Livesey, was called to preside over the Scotland Edinburgh Mission, and I was called as stake president."

He served as stake president for eight years. When he was called as regional representative, he was succeeded by Peter Burnett. He served as regional representative for six and a half years and was followed again by Brother Burnett, who was recently released as a regional representative. Pres. Williams was later called a second time as bishop, this time serving six and a half years.

"One of the things we have been blessed with is friendship," reflected Pres. Williams. "I doubt whether anybody joins this Church and stays securely without good friends. Peter and I are like brothers, really. I think back, and realize I was more than fortunate to have met a man of his caliber."

Another acquaintance from earlier years, Arthur Gregory who helped teach him the gospel, is a temple sealer who recently performed family sealings for the Williams family.

Sister Williams has also made many contributions in the Church in the past 36 years. As her husband took leadership roles, she at first remained in "the background, but always had a Church calling," she said. "We have five children, so I was always being put with them in Primary, Sunday School and Young Women.

"Only after they grew up was I called as ward Relief Society president." Five years later she served as stake Relief Society president. During this time, she cared for seven foster children.

He husband commented, "I've seen her sitting in bed, falling asleep, studying a talk or studying a lesson, and caring for the foster children."

"They fit very well into the family," she said.

The Williams family has been missionary-minded, inviting friends into their home for a film or missionary lessons. "We've had a natural flow of missionary work from our home," he said. "When I travel, I have always given out copies of the Book of Mormon, all over the world. I always manage to talk to someone on the journeys - in Singapore, Germany, Italy or South Africa."

He said the gospel brings great happiness. "We've really got to be happy because that is what the gospel is all about. The gospel is just marvelous. Those spiritual moments are our jewels."