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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.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson “Come, Follow Me” 2025 video
Follow the Prophets
The perfect scripture for when challenges feel too hard to bear
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 28, 2025 09:09 AM MDT
Elder Stevenson recently shared some beautiful counsel from the Doctrine and Covenants.
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The Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, July 11, 2025.
Latter-day Saint Life
10 facts about the Church Office Building that might surprise you
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 23, 2025 03:40 PM MDT
This week marks 50 years since the building was dedicated.
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Elder Patrick Kearon and Sister Jennifer Kearon hiking in Cebu, Philippines
Follow the Prophets
Watch: Elder Kearon visits a family’s home in mountains of the Philippines
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 22, 2025 02:46 PM MDT
“To be here, and to be enveloped in the light and the love and the faith of these people, is just the most beautiful blessing,” said Elder Kearon.
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A close-up of female hands holding a Bible in a field of flowers
Latter-day Saint Life
3 scriptures to soothe your soul when life feels heavy
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 21, 2025 04:02 PM MDT
Here are a few encouraging verses to save for when you need a pick-me-up.
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Temple Worship
5 beautiful blessings of temple worship
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 15, 2025 10:24 AM MDT
President Nelson has shared specific blessings we can receive from temple worship. Here are just a few.
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Painting of Jesus Christ holding a staff standing in front of mountains and a lake
Latter-day Saint Life
What the Hebrew idea of truth teaches us about Christ
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 14, 2025 03:29 PM MDT
This framework can provide greater insight into our relationship with the Savior.
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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
July 09, 2025 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.
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Calm senior woman in a red sweater sitting on couch and writing in journal
Latter-day Saint Life
Why living the gospel is about writing a script—not following one
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 07, 2025 04:16 PM MDT
“I don’t think it’s about getting the ‘script’ right. I think God gives us a blank canvas and says, ‘Here, paint a beautiful picture,’” says Terryl Givens.
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Illustration of a happy woman smiling at herself in the mirror.
Latter-day Saint Life
The myth of searching for your ‘true self’
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
July 03, 2025 02:48 PM MDT
“We’re not searching to uncover some ‘true self’—we are deliberately and consciously aspiring to a self,” says Latter-day Saint scholar Terryl Givens.
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A male hand writes in a notebook with a pen
Latter-day Saint Life
This song from the new hymnbook was written in a jail
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 30, 2025 03:03 PM MDT
For a hymn centered on joy, the lyrics originate from a surprising place.
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Chad Hymas 2
Stories of Faith
A quadriplegic man’s faith to not be healed
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 26, 2025 02:52 PM MDT
Chad says that his circumstances have allowed him to focus on what truly matters and serve in new ways.
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A woman pondering during an LDS sacrament meeting
Help for Life Challenges
This new hymn is a must-listen if you have anxiety
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 24, 2025 02:11 PM MDT
The composer based the song on a turning point in her experiences with anxiety.
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A confident Black woman with curly hair
Help for Life Challenges
A 2-word mantra to help you recognize personal revelation more often
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 23, 2025 01:54 PM MDT
This framework helps remind us that God is always reaching out to us.
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The Hartford Connecticut Temple
Temple Worship
Practical advice for first-time temple goers
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 20, 2025 02:13 PM MDT
These two suggestions can help you find more joy in your temple worship.
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Shelby Stroud in front of "A Sure Foundation"
Stories of Faith
Must-see portrait of Christ made with seashells
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 11, 2025 02:22 PM MDT
This breathtaking image is composed of stones, seashells, fossils, and wood.
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Elder Patrick Kearon smiles while speaking from a church podium.
Follow the Prophets
Watch: Deeply moving clip of Elder Kearon testifying of Christ’s love to Filipino Saints
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 29, 2025 02:00 PM MDT
“You are loved so much more than you can imagine,” Elder Kearon affirmed.
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A woman wearing a striped shirt holds her hands over her heart.
Latter-day Saint Life
It’s time we stop limiting revelation to a ‘burning in the bosom’
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 27, 2025 02:26 PM MDT
Feeling a “burning in the bosom” is one pattern for receiving revelation that may not be helpful for everyone.
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The sun sets behind the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Latter-day Saint Life
For the first time, you can go to free concerts on the Conference Center rooftop
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 27, 2025 01:43 PM MDT
Enjoy free, family-friendly concerts near Temple Square this summer.
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Portrait of a large family
Latter-day Saint Life
Don’t end your family reunion without trying this incredibly meaningful (and free) activity
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 11, 2024 02:40 PM MDT
This activity includes all ages, requires minimal prep, and creates lasting family memories.
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A woman looks at the Payson Utah Temple.
Help for Life Challenges
This Latter-day Saint author has the best advice for finding hope when life isn’t a storybook
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 07, 2024 11:54 AM MDT
Author Rebecca Connolly hasn’t found her own love story yet, but here’s how she remains a believer in “the hope of the happily ever after.”
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A smart phone shows digital sheet music for “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
Latter-day Saint Life
What’s an ‘Eben-ezer’? The true meaning behind 2 ‘Come, Thou Fount’ lyrics to comfort any wandering heart
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 06, 2024 10:54 AM MDT
These definitions help us appreciate the beautiful hymn even more.
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Attendees listen to the prayer during a devotional in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday, October 20, 2019.
Help for Life Challenges
‘When Church Is Hard’ author on helping young adults navigate complex faith questions
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 31, 2024 02:06 PM MDT
“Sometimes we assume that if younger people feel that sense of conflict, it must be a sign of them not being spiritually serious or being entirely wrongheaded or misinformed. And that’s just not true.”
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Two young children sing in a Primary music program.
From the Church
Exciting, inspiring aspects of the new hymnbook you won’t want to overlook
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 30, 2024 05:41 PM MDT
Already, Church members and leaders are finding joy in the new hymnbook. Here are a few reasons why.
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Dark-haired Latin mom and son smile at each other while sitting outside on a step.
Help for Life Challenges
This woman’s realization about love after her marriage ended will bless any family
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 23, 2024 01:24 PM MDT
Author Taylor Ricks Mele hesitated at first, but she felt compelled to write about her experience moving forward from a divorce.
1 Min Read
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