Episode 815: Kelsey Wells, Mid-20’s, Child of God, Gay Latter-day Saint

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

Richard Ostler

Religion & Spirituality

4.8 • 839 Ratings

🗓️ 6 March 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

My friend Kelsey Wells (RM, from Idaho, lives in Utah County, former EFY counselor and seminary teacher, active in her ward) joins us to bravely share her story. Kelsey starts with coming out to her mother (senior year of high school) and the good/difficult experiences—including how not talking about it brings shame. Kelsey talks about wanting to service a mission but putting that on pause because she realized she was not doing that for the right reasons. Kelsey shares what changed and how she ended up serving. Kelsey bravely talks about getting engaged to a man and how that engagement ended a few weeks before the wedding. Kelsey talks about ignoring red flags because of her desire to get married and have a family. Kelsey talks about being in the Temple and a sealer sharing some thoughts that gave her clarity and courage to end the engagement. Kelsey talks about not wanting to be alive—but finding hope in Christ, therapy and the Questions From the Closet podcast. Kelsey also talks about “fear is where Satan thrives”. Kelsey talks about why she stays a member of the Church, joy in being a EFY councilor and teaching seminary, and helping others find hope. Thank you Kelsey for being on the podcast. You are so emotionally and spiritually mature. You are also so brave. You being open helps others walking this road and helps us better create Zion. Links: Instagram: Instagram: @kelswayan Email: [email protected] Current Teaching versus Obsolete Teachings: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mxcr5fo9rxl29by4wvc9q/Obsolete-and-Current-Teachings-LGBTQ.docx?rlkey=e1dbc3iffua4nwwscpg911uzw&dl=0

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, welcome listeners to another episode of Listen, Learn, and Love hosted by Richard Osler.
0:10.3	My guest on today's podcast is my new friend Kelsey Wells.
0:14.2	Welcome to the podcast, Kelsey.
0:16.2	Thank you.
0:16.9	I'm so excited to be here.
0:19.7	Kelsey is going to share her story, like a lot of people on this platform, as a gay Latter-day Saint.
0:25.6	And I'll just give you a couple minutes of bio.
0:28.6	She grew up in rural Idaho near Twin Falls.
0:32.6	She, professionally, she is a traveling orthodontist assistant and also owns her own sports agency.
0:40.8	She lives in Utah County.
0:42.4	She's in her mid-20s.
0:45.2	She is gay.
0:46.4	I used to say people identify as gay.
0:48.1	Now I just kind of say they are.
0:49.6	This is who they are.
0:50.4	It's not like, oh, that's okay for our listeners and for you, Kelsey. She first came out to her mom as a senior in high school. This is one of the, this is the first time she's felt impressed to share her story broadly outside of friends and family. So when I heard that before we started to record, I just want to give Kelsey a big hug for
1:13.0	how courageous she is to share her story. And we set a prayer for Kelsey. She'd be able to share
1:19.4	the things in her heart and her mind. We also set a prayer for you listeners. The things Kelsey
1:25.4	shares with you will help you know Kelsey love and support
1:29.3	her better. And if there's LGBTQ people in your life, that you'll have more insights,
1:34.5	love and support them. And if you are LGBTQ, our prayers that the things Kelsey shares will
1:42.0	help you, especially if you're early in your journey
	...

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