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Maddie Tolk

Maddie is a content specialist for LDS Living. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard and has published and edited content for the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Macmillan Learning, HarvardX, Utah Valley University, and Adobe. Maddie enjoys reading, playing the violin and piano, and watching musicals.

Primary children at Riga Chapel in Riga, Latvia, on March 7, 2023.
Latter-day Saint Life
3 ways to help children feel sacrament meeting is for them—not just Mom and Dad
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 13, 2024 03:05 PM MDT
Here are a few simple ways to help kids feels engaged and involved in our local meetings.
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President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gestures during his 100th birthday celebration at the Little Theatre of the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, September 9, 2024.
Follow the Prophets
8 inspiring quotes from Pres. Nelson’s 100th birthday celebration
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 10, 2024 01:37 PM MDT
“Our family has become very large, but he has always focused on us as individuals.” —Ashlyn Owens, President Nelson’s great-granddaughter
1 Min Read
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A fork in the road in a beautiful autumn forest, symbolic of making a decision and receiving personal revelation.
Latter-day Saint Life
How can I know when I’m receiving personal revelation? These 2 tips might help
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 09, 2024 09:10 AM MDT
Sheri Dew recently shared two things that have helped her recognize answers to prayer more clearly.
3 Min Read
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Sheri Dew in her office in Salt Lake City in 2010.
Help for Life Challenges
Can I still have a testimony if I have questions? Sheri Dew’s reassuring answer
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 29, 2024 02:24 PM MDT
Even if you have questions, you can have a firm testimony if you know these five things.
2 Min Read
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A large group of people kneel around the Savior Jesus Christ during His Second Coming.
Latter-day Saint Life
4 signs of the Second Coming that will fill you with hope
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 28, 2024 12:37 PM MDT
While we often focus on scary “signs of the times” like wars and earthquakes, we can find comfort in the many hopeful signs of the Savior’s return.
4 Min Read
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Elder David A. Bednar speaks at a pulpit in front of a projection of the Pinterest logo.
Follow the Prophets
Elder Bednar’s 3 tips for sharing the gospel online
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 21, 2024 02:05 PM MDT
Ten years after his landmark address on sharing the gospel using social media, Elder David A. Bednar gave insights on spreading light online today.
2 Min Read
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Sister Missionaries at the Ghana Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Accra
Latter-day Saint Life
3 encouraging reminders every missionary needs in the MTC
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 16, 2024 06:26 PM MDT
Support a new missionary during their first weeks in the MTC by sharing these important reminders.
3 Min Read
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Woman teaching Relief Society smiles at a woman raising her hand in the class.
Help for Life Challenges
Remember this 1 truth while waiting for blessings that may only come in the next life
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 14, 2024 02:49 PM MDT
This principle can help anyone navigating the gap between where they are now and where they would like to be.
2 Min Read
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Father and teenage kids hiking in the high mountains of Austria (Alps, Vorarlberg)
Latter-day Saint Life
5 insights to fill you with hope as you encourage others on the covenant path
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 09, 2024 04:39 PM MDT
Expanding our understanding of the covenant path allows us to support our families with more hope and joy.
5 Min Read
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Ben Rector holds a guitar and sings on a stage.
Latter-day Saint Life
Ben Rector learns ‘I’m Trying to Be like Jesus’ for YSA concert
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 06, 2024 01:59 PM MDT
“I’m kind of nervous—it’s a beautiful song,” he shared with the audience before performing the Primary song.
2 Min Read
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3 women sitting outside laugh together
Latter-day Saint Life
3 things good listeners always do
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
August 01, 2024 04:08 PM MDT
President Nelson has counseled that we should “learn to listen, then listen to learn.” Here are three ways we can truly listen to our loved ones.
4 Min Read
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A man stands at the pulpit in a Latter-day Saint chapel and speaks to the congregation.
Latter-day Saint Life
What does it mean to say ‘I know’ vs. ‘I believe’? One author’s insightful, comforting answer
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 29, 2024 03:03 PM MDT
Believing and knowing both involve accepting principles as truth—but within different conditions.
3 Min Read
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Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles greets missionaries at the Manila Missionary Training Center in Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024.
Follow the Prophets
Elder Andersen’s simple tip will help anyone learn to love the scriptures
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 26, 2024 03:13 PM MDT
Elder Andersen reassured new missionaries by sharing a scripture exercise you could easily try with your family.
1 Min Read
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Cropped shot of two young women embracing each other at home
Help for Life Challenges
4 principles to help you respond to any sincere question—even when there aren’t easy answers
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 23, 2024 04:16 PM MDT
When a loved one asks a hard question, it can be difficult to know the right things to say. Here are simple ways to make these conversations easier.
4 Min Read
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Derrick Porter Music & the Spoken Word
Stories of Faith
Young father reflects on the Lord’s timing after accepting Church calling only 3 others have held before
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 18, 2024 03:11 PM MDT
The new host for “Music & the Spoken Word” says the calling came as a “complete shock and surprise,” but he trusts in the Lord’s timing.
5 Min Read
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Brandon Pak looks up at a grove of trees.
Stories of Faith
Berklee grad’s story of returning to the Church is as inspiring as his new music
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 18, 2024 02:39 PM MDT
Singer Brandon Pak found newfound peace coming back to church after years away. Read his story and hopeful advice for supporting loved ones who leave.
10 Min Read
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Black hispanic woman closing eyes in contemplation and smiling.
Latter-day Saint Life
Expert tips for enjoying spiritual stillness—no matter what’s on your plate
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 17, 2024 03:58 PM MDT
Bite-sized efforts to be spiritually nourished can add up to a fulfilling relationship with God.
3 Min Read
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Two sister missionaries sitting on a couch smile while looking at a scripture verse.
Help for Life Challenges
3 scriptures to bolster a missionary (that they might’ve not heard before)
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 16, 2024 02:33 PM MDT
Encourage a missionary during a difficult transfer or season with these comforting scriptures.
2 Min Read
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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf with his wife, Harriet, and their granddaughter, Jasmin.
Follow the Prophets
Elder Uchtdorf shares testimony as granddaughter navigates serious illness
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 12, 2024 02:53 PM MDT
We may not always receive physical healing during difficult medical trials, but the Savior can bless our souls with an “active healing power.”
1 Min Read
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An instruction room in the Rome Italy Temple.
Temple Worship
3 simple questions to ask yourself each time you participate in the endowment
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 11, 2024 10:24 AM MDT
Reflecting on specific questions during a temple endowment session can help you prepare to receive personalized direction from the Spirit.
3 Min Read
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Latter-day Saint Life
3 interesting facts about ‘Come, Thou Fount’ (including the author’s touching backstory)
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 26, 2024 05:15 PM MDT
For how well-loved this famous hymn is, many people don’t know these inspiring, interesting facts about its history.
4 Min Read
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A boy holding open a copy of the Book of Mormon to Moroni chapter 10.
Help for Life Challenges
3 ways we may misunderstand ‘Moroni’s promise’ (and how the truth helps build testimony)
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 25, 2024 04:06 PM MDT
Many of us inadvertently oversimplify Moroni 10:3–5 in these three ways.
3 Min Read
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President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reads scripture in his office in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
From the Church
The Book of Mormon chapter Pres. Nelson reads with visiting diplomats, religious leaders
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 24, 2024 11:57 AM MDT
Time and again, President Nelson has experienced the power of the Book of Mormon when sharing this passage with guests around the globe.
1 Min Read
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¿Dónde hallo el solaz?
Help for Life Challenges
This 1 word in the Spanish version of ‘Where Can I Turn for Peace?’ may help you see Christ’s hand more often
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 21, 2024 07:16 AM MDT
When I listened to the hymn performed in Spanish, I discovered an interesting lyric translation.
2 Min Read
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