Danielle Christensen

Danielle is a features writer and editor for LDS Living. Previously, she served as web producer for Church News, where she managed its website and social media platforms. Danielle is a graduate of Brigham Young University in English and has been published with Deseret News, Church News, Y Magazine, and Spires Intercollegiate Arts and Literary Magazine.

Follow Danielle on Twitter

Feature Stories

‘American Idol’ winner Iam Tongi shares the full story of his faith—and it will bring hope to any grieving heart

By Danielle Christensen

November 06, 2023 03:33 PM MST

American Idol winner Iam Tongi’s musical talent is truly impressive, but it is the person he’s become through his challenges who equally deserves the spotlight.

12 Min Read

The Maradiaga family holds a canvas of the photo Eduardo took of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple. From left to right: Giselle, Eduardo Enrique, Bryana Giselle, and Eduardo.

Feature Stories

The unique blessings that came from one family’s focus on the temple

By Danielle Christensen

September 25, 2023 08:15 AM MDT

Starting over in a new country is far from easy, but the Maradiaga family soon found a new source of hope by following a prompting to focus—literally—on the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple.

11 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

12 times President Nelson has pronounced blessings over the pulpit at general conference

By Danielle Christensen

September 21, 2023 08:00 AM MDT

Here are some of our favorite moments from President Nelson’s general conference talks when he has given listeners a specific blessing.

1 Min Read

Screen Shot 2023-08-01 at 1.14.54 PM.png

Latter-day Saint Life

How to be more mindful of the ministry of angels in your life

By Danielle Christensen

August 17, 2023 08:00 AM MDT

Here are six takeaways about the ministry of angels that can inspire us in our lives today.

11 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

What we can learn from going to church when it isn’t easy

By Danielle Christensen

July 20, 2023 05:37 PM MDT

I was hoping for an international church experience in Japan—but I got a very different outcome instead.

6 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

9 ways to help someone going through the repentance process feel welcome at church

By Danielle Christensen

July 13, 2023 04:00 PM MDT

We all want to feel loved and accepted. Here are nine ideas that may help those who are unable to fully participate at church know they are welcome among their fellow Latter-day Saints.

14 Min Read

Recommended by Us

Watch: Elder Holland tenderly thanks Saints for prayers during his struggles with COVID, kidney dialysis

By Danielle Christensen

June 29, 2023 06:12 PM MDT

Elder Holland recently expressed his gratitude for the Saints who have been praying for him as he’s faced health challenges in recent months.

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

7 updates in the new ‘Preach My Gospel’ that can improve your approach to missionary work

By Danielle Christensen

June 28, 2023 06:07 PM MDT

President Nelson recently announced a second edition of Preach My Gospel, saying, “It contains some of the best instruction I have ever seen to help people accept the Lord’s invitation to come unto Him.”

10 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Dedicating your house + 2 more ideas to make your home a ‘house of the Lord’

By Danielle Christensen

June 14, 2023 12:49 PM MDT

The thought of creating a holier home may seem daunting, but don’t let that deter you. Here are three actionable ideas that can help you get going.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

5 ideas to help you share—and not overshare—personal experiences at church

By Danielle Christensen

June 06, 2023 04:51 PM MDT

What should we share in church meetings? These five ideas can help guide you on how to talk about your personal experiences in meaningful ways.

6 Min Read

Feature Stories

‘You need to take a picture of the temple’: The prompting that helped a Honduran family start a new life

By Danielle Christensen

June 01, 2023 12:12 PM MDT

Eduardo Maradiaga didn’t know it then, but the photo he took of the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple was about to go on a journey that would give him and his family hope as they started new lives in the US.

11 Min Read

Beautiful,Blue,Sky,With,Sunbeams,And,Clouds.,Sun,Rays.

Latter-day Saint Life

‘When shall these things be?’: What we should remember when studying the Second Coming

By Danielle Christensen

May 25, 2023 07:00 AM MDT

Many of us would like to know when the Second Coming is going to happen. After all, it is the latter days, so we know the event is closer than it ever has been before. But when will it actually take place?

7 Min Read

Feature Stories

How the Bangkok Thailand Temple’s project manager was inspired to join the Church

By Danielle Christensen

May 25, 2023 07:00 AM MDT

Meet Anurat Kaeocha, one of the newest members of the Church in Thailand and project manager for the Bangkok Thailand Temple.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Here’s the status of all 133 temples announced by President Nelson

By Danielle Christensen

May 19, 2023 03:57 PM MDT

See a list of all the temples President Nelson has announced since 2018 and find out how far along they are in the construction process.

11 Min Read

Marguerite Gong Hancock/Watson_220511_0251_M.jpg

Feature Stories

Chinese roots to Silicon Valley branches: How this executive is sharing her faith and shaping the future of tech

By Danielle Christensen

May 15, 2023 07:00 AM MDT

Marguerite Gong Hancock is a techno-optimist in Silicon Valley whose family roots, faith, and passion for humanity inspire her to bring an abundant life to civilizations worldwide.

16 Min Read

Feature Stories

Talking to Jesus: How her Baptist grandmother’s faith inspires this Latter-day Saint

By Danielle Christensen

May 12, 2023 08:00 AM MDT

Marcia heard her grandmother constantly pray for her children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends—and that example changed her life.

9 Min Read

LDS Living Cover - In Layers-Edited230412.jpg

Feature Stories

A winning hand: How Grandpa Beck’s Games has risen to success by dealing fun to families worldwide

By Danielle Christensen

May 10, 2023 01:48 PM MDT

Grandpa Beck’s Games have brought families and friends together with games like Cover Your Assets, Skull King, and Gnoming A Round. Here’s how perseverance, trial and error, and a whole lot of faith have helped them rise to success.

15 Min Read

Jacob,Keeping,Laban's,Flocks,-,Picture,From,The,Holy,Scriptures,

Latter-day Saint Life

The important lessons we can learn from 5 mothers in the Old Testament

By Danielle Christensen

May 03, 2023 08:00 AM MDT

There are many mothers in the scriptures with valuable stories—here are just five from the Old Testament that we have a lot to learn from.

7 Min Read

The Killers' Brandon Flowers sends plea to 'Father in Heaven' in 'Land of the Free' single

By Danielle Christensen

June 10, 2020 07:52 PM MDT

Brandon Flowers, frontman for The Killers and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently wrote some new lyrics to the song “Land of the Free” to address the death of George Floyd.

2 Min Read

Missing Church history sites? Tour the Kirtland Temple online

By Danielle Christensen

June 05, 2020 05:55 PM MDT

Normally summer is usually a busy time of year in Kirtland, Ohio, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others visit famous historic Church sites like the restored Newell K. Whitney store, the Kirtland Visitors’ Center, and the Kirtland Temple.

1 Min Read

5 stories about what really matters in our interactions with individuals who have special needs

By Danielle Christensen

June 03, 2020 05:47 PM MDT

The June 2020 Ensign is full of stories on the topic of those with special needs and circumstances. Written from the perspectives of loved ones, teachers, and those with special needs, the articles share insights on focusing on individuals rather than their challenges and on bringing the Spirit into every situation.

4 Min Read

Couple collects, donates first-edition copies of the Book of Mormon in all 149 translations to BYU Library

By Danielle Christensen

June 01, 2020 05:10 PM MDT

Latter-day Saint couple Carolyn Potter Ingersoll and her husband, William Boley Ingersoll, recently donated 149 first editions of Book of Mormon translations to the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University.

1 Min Read

What Elder Gong has learned about staying connected while social distancing

By Danielle Christensen

May 29, 2020 05:34 PM MDT

This may be a time of social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t connect with each other.

1 Min Read

How a promise from Sister Ardeth Kapp was fulfilled years after it was made

By Danielle Christensen

May 28, 2020 06:06 PM MDT

It’s been 150 years since the founding of the Young Women organization. On May 25, 1870, President Brigham Young gathered his daughters in the Lion House in Salt Lake City, asking them to set an example to other young ladies and help reduce extravagance and bring about greater economic unity in the community. Two days later, on May 27, the Young Ladies’ Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association was founded.

1 Min Read