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Show f I hree Irish Converts Bolster W; LISBURN, IRELAND Eric Bowyer is a soccer player. Raymond Lowry is a jeweler. Marshall Edwards is a former minister. They are all converts to the Church, and they all live in Lisburn, Ireland. Eric Bowyer is a member of the high council of the Belfast Ireland Stake. Raymond Lowry is bishop of Lisburn Ward. Marshall Edwards is the stake executive secretary. They are all good fiiends, and tlit-- Hie in the same area so We can strengthen the Church. All three men recently married, accepting the challenge of former mission president, Clyde J. Sutnmerbays, when he said, I want to see all three of you married before I am released from the mission. Pres. Summerhays was released July 1974 The stories of the three men and their marriages are interesting and faith promoting. They follow on ibis page. m umhimju Mix S Former Minister Adds Skill to Build Branch Marshall Edwards was SI years old and single. He was a minister in his own church, but felt that his life ha' not been complete r. Ya, was something new, but I was very interested and I began to read it immediately. I was astonished, but I was prepared to believe in miracles, and to was a miracle. 5 . I wasnt satisfied with the doctrine I felt of my church, he explained. there must be the truth somewhere and so I was searching. When the missionaries, trading in the area, knocked on his door, he was willing to talk to them. I had never met a Mormon before," he said, so I asked them if they believed in the resurrection. They very eagerly replied, Yes! I invited them to come into my home, and that first night they gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon. Again, it I was interested in the Jews. I often felt that the blood of Israel was in the islands because British means covenant man. The Book of Mormon was a wonderful new book for Brother Edwards studied intently for several weeks, at the same time taking the missionary discussions. It was an easy decision to be baptized at the conclusion of the discussions. I knew the Book of Mormon Continued on page 10 5 ,3 Bishop Raymond Lowry helps his wife prepare yarn for knitting. , They m Lone Convert Becom : r iwtk :' JV : Ym w n J! 'V X, V Mf th ministry to join the ha found a wrfo and happiness. Marshall Edwards Church, is Svi 'of. , ' iwii Raymond lxiwry has been bishop of Lisburn Ward since June 1974 when the Belfast Ireland Stake was organized. Before that he was branch president for more than six years. I joined the Church 12 years ago, he saiu. The missionaries asked me to play on their soccer team. 1 was only 14 years old and it seemed like a fun thing to do. Bui, there was more than soccer. I saw motion pictures and was given books and tracts I was impressed by the motion picture, The Mormon Story. I read the literature and it seemed true to me." One day as I was going to school on the bus, I was impressed to get off. I wanted to find the missionaries. I had to ask around town to find out where the Americans lived, and when I knocked on their door early that morning they were uite surprised," Bishop Lowry explained. What are you doing here?" they asked. I felt I should answered. find you, The young investigator was invi and the first discussion was gh that morning. Later he was taught in home with his parents. in I wanted to be baptized, but parents asked me to wait," be said waited for six months and was fcaptn when I was 15 years old I was the ft member of the Church in Lisburn used to have Sunday School with die t ciders. They would teach me. I will never forget Pres- - Andr Renfrew, who was the branch pres'd at Belfast. He would come out to see i from time to time Just think, that m Ik coming all the way out to see I little I have thanked him many times canng about me. old. By the lime I was 19 years was ready for a mission and went North Germany, Bishop Lowry co turned. I loved the work so much. I |