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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.

A woman holds a sacrament tray with water cups
Latter-day Saint Life
Want more spiritual power? Focus on this word during (and after) the sacrament
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 10, 2024 11:08 AM MDT
While we sometimes forget the true meaning of this word, saying it intentionally draws spiritual strength into our lives.
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Mother working from home while holding toddler, family in background
Latter-day Saint Life
Sister Yee’s perspective on feeling overwhelmed is so encouraging
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 09, 2024 10:53 AM MDT
You’ll love Sister Yee’s refreshing take on the all-too-relatable feeling of being overwhelmed.
2 Min Read
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Emily Belle Freeman speaks at the 2024 Seminar for New Mission Leaders
Latter-day Saint Life
Pres. Freeman’s favorite way to take notes during general conference
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 03, 2024 02:05 PM MDT
Try this creative note-taking idea during general conference to remember promptings you receive.
1 Min Read
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Harry Anderson's "The Second Coming" at the Church History Museum
Latter-day Saint Life
The most comprehensive exhibit of Latter-day Saint art to date is on display now
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 01, 2024 02:08 PM MDT
The gallery features the famous painting “The Second Coming,” which the Church commissioned in the 1970s.
1 Min Read
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A husband reaches out his hand to his wife to comfort her.
Latter-day Saint Life
This new Church video is perfect for anyone fearing the future
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 01, 2024 01:46 PM MDT
“There is hope in the promise God has made of a place of safety in the storms ahead,” President Eyring assures us.
1 Min Read
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Illustration of a woman reading a book surrounded by plants.
Help for Life Challenges
The soothing one-liner from Psalms you may need right now
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 27, 2024 02:09 PM MDT
This verse is one of the best hidden gems in the Bible.
2 Min Read
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President Russell M. Nelson speaks at the 193rd Semiannual General Conference on October 1, 2023.
Follow the Prophets
11 seriously good questions President Nelson has asked you
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 25, 2024 03:37 PM MDT
Do you remember these encouraging questions from President Nelson?
1 Min Read
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Young family gardening together in Beijing, China.
Latter-day Saint Life
3 simple ways to help foster good feelings in your family
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 20, 2024 02:34 PM MDT
Try these powerful ideas to nurture more feelings of love and unity within your family.
4 Min Read
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Mother kissing her baby son
Help for Life Challenges
If you feel like asking ‘why?’ during trials, find comfort in this truth
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 20, 2024 02:31 PM MDT
Even during trials, we can find joy in the here and now because of this truth.
2 Min Read
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A mother and a daughter smile together looking at a phone screen.
Stories of Faith
This must-see painting about mental health is resonating with thousands
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 17, 2024 04:11 PM MDT
You’ll love this depiction of how Christ joins us in our trials.
2 Min Read
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Family Reading the Bible Together
Latter-day Saint Life
Elder Bednar’s reassuring insight on repetition will breathe new life into your routine
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 16, 2024 03:06 PM MDT
If it feels like you’re just going through the motions in your spiritual habits, read this.
4 Min Read
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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 feel engaged and involved in our local meetings.
2 Min Read
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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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