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An Unexpected Path to Peace: Kelsey Cottle’s Story of Faith, Motherhood, and Divine Alignment
Faith Doesn’t Have to Look One Way: Kelsey Cottle’s Conversion Story
What happens when faith doesn’t feel personal anymore? When you’ve grown up with church as a backdrop to your life, but you still find yourself searching for more?
That’s exactly what happened to Kelsey Cottle, a wife, homeschool mom of three (with one on the way), and a holistic coach who helps overwhelmed mothers reclaim energy and peace. In her conversation on the Divine Disruptors YouTube series, Kelsey shares the honest, winding, and deeply spiritual journey that led her from Catholic and Baptist roots to becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
And it all started with a question.
When Church Wasn’t Enough Anymore
Raised in the South, Kelsey’s childhood was full of spiritual activity: Catholic school during the week, Baptist church on Sundays, youth groups, mission trips, and summer camps. But something was missing. She had the structure of religion, but not the depth of relationship.
“I always believed in God,” she said, “but I didn’t have a real relationship with Him.”
It wasn’t until high school, when her family started attending a non-denominational church, that she began to pull away. The church experience felt different and not in a good way. Still, she longed for something deeper.
The Moment That Shifted Everything
Kelsey was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints somewhat unexpectedly. What began as a visit to “be polite” quickly turned into something more. During a fast and testimony meeting, a sister missionary stood and shared her conversion story. Her words hit something deep inside Kelsey.
From there, Kelsey began researching the Church, not to convert, but to learn. And what she found surprised her: consistent answers, grounded doctrine, and a faith tradition that felt spiritually aligned.
“I had asked pastors questions for years and always got different answers,” she shared. “But in this faith, no matter who I asked, the answers were the same. That felt like truth to me.”
Just a few months later, at the age of 18, she was baptized.
Faith and Motherhood: Where It All Got Real
Becoming a mother, Kelsey explained, changed everything again. Her relationship with God became less theoretical and more essential.
“There were moments when I would pray, ‘God, I can’t do five more minutes of today,’” she said. “And somehow, He always helped me get through it.”
Living far from family and juggling life with young kids and a husband in dental school, Kelsey has come to rely on divine help in her daily motherhood. She sees God in the chaos, in the quiet moments, and even in the podcasts and healing tools she uses to feel connected.
God Shows Up Differently for Everyone
One of the most powerful parts of Kelsey’s story is how she talks about the uniqueness of God’s communication.
“God parents us individually, just like I parent each of my kids differently,” she shared. “He meets us in the way we learn best.”
For Kelsey, God has shown up through Come Follow Me study, daily conversations in her mind and heart, and even through alternative healing practices that others in her faith tradition may not fully understand. But for her, these are reminders that God is in the details and He’s not limited by our expectations.
Faith Doesn’t Have to Look One Way
Kelsey’s story is a beautiful reminder that there’s no one “right” way to grow in faith. Her journey is one of questioning, seeking, and slowly building a personal relationship with God that aligns with her life as a mom, a business owner, and a daughter of God.
Whether you’re in the middle of a faith transition, feeling spiritually depleted, or longing for more meaning in your everyday moments, Kelsey’s story offers hope.
Watch the full episode on YouTube: Divine Disruptors with Kelsey Cottle
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