David S. Baxter
| David S. Baxter | |
|---|---|
|
Baxter in July 2008 | |
| First Quorum of the Seventy | |
| 1 April 2006 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Steward Baxter 7 February 1955 Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Spouse(s) | Dianne Marie |
| Children | 4 |
David Steward Baxter (born 7 February 1955) has been a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2006. A native of Scotland, and a resident of England at the time of his call, he is only the third general authority who was native to the United Kingdom and also living there at the time of his call.
Baxter joined the LDS Church along with his mother and siblings when he was twelve. Shortly after this, his mother remarried and the family moved to Surrey. This is where Baxter first met his future wife. He and his wife, Dianne Lewars, were in the same ward and were two of only five Latter-day Saints at their school. Baxter then attended the University of Wales where he graduated with a BSc in Economics.
After graduating, Baxter served a mission in the Scotland Edinburgh Mission, starting in 1976. For ten months of this mission he was branch president in Lerwick in the Shetland Islands. After returning from his mission, Baxter and Dianne Lewars were married and they are the parents of four children.
Baxter served for a time as a senior director at British Telecom. He also served as the UK Government's Director for international trade and Investment for Greater London and as a member of the Board of Capacity Builders, a UK Home Office Agency. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Business Link for London (small business advice service), and as a member of the Board of London First, on the CBI London Council, and as Deputy Chairman of the East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust.
Baxter became an LDS bishop at age 25. He also served as a counselor in a stake presidency, as president of the Ipswich England Stake and as a counselor in the presidency of the England London Mission. From 2002 to 2006 he was an area seventy, which included serving as a counselor in the presidency of the church's Europe West Area from 2004 to 2006. After his call as general authority, Baxter served as a counselor in the church's New Zealand/Pacific Islands Area and then as president of the Pacific Area, each based in Auckland, New Zealand.
In 2009, Baxter was diagnosed with brain cancer after suffering a seizure while touring a mission in Australia. He underwent brain surgery and radiation therapy for the treatment of this illness. Baxter has since resumed his duties in the LDS Church and has been assigned to church headquarters, including time spent as an Assistant Executive Director in the church's Temple Department.
He is the author of "A Perfect Brightness of Hope", published in 2012 by Deseret Book, as well as "Peace, be Still" (2013) and "What Good Men Do" (2014), published by Cedar Fort, Inc.
References
- "New Area Authority Seventies" Church News, April 20, 2002. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- Sarah Jane Weaver, "Londoners strong after terrorists strike", Church News July 16, 2005. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- Shaun D. Stahle, "Peace came when the missionaries visited", Church News, April 15 2006. Retrieved 15 September 2014. See also "David S. Baxter" from the same Church News edition for Baxter's biographical information.
- "Greeting prime minister", Church News, 17 February 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- "New Zealand leader promotes education", Church News, 24 November 2007. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- "Elder David S. Baxter Of the Seventy", Liahona, May 2006, p. 124