Baxter's parents divorced when he was five years old and his mother remarried twice in his childhood.

[1] Baxter joined the LDS Church, along with his mother and siblings when he was 12 and shortly after this the family moved to Surrey.

[2] In 2009, Baxter was diagnosed with brain cancer after suffering a seizure while touring a mission in Australia.

[1] He underwent brain surgery and radiation therapy for the treatment of this illness.

Following some treatment and recovery, he resumed service at church headquarters, but has since again been placed on medical leave.