David S. Baxter
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 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 Church of Jesus Christ 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.
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.
Baxter became a bishop at age 25. He has also served as president of the Ipswich England Stake, and as a counselor in the England London Mission presidency. From 2002 to 2006 he was an area seventy. While still an area seventy he served as a counselor in the church's Europe West Area presidency.
Elder Baxter served for a time as a senior director at British Telecom. He also served as director for international trade for London and as a member of the board of the Home Office Agency.
The Baxters have four children. Sister Baxter died on March 25, 2022.
References
- Church News, April 20, 2002; July 16, 2005; April 15, 2006; August 9, 2007
- "Elder David A. Baxter Of the Seventy" "David A. Baxter"