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.

The Orem Utah Temple in Orem on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

How can the Book of Mormon help me understand what happens in the temple?

By Maddie Tolk

April 18, 2024 01:59 PM MDT

These 10 moments from the Book of Mormon reveal beautiful insights about temple covenants.

6 Min Read

Ardeth G. and Heber B. Kapp in Bountiful, Utah, after Sister Kapp was called to serve as Young Women General President.

Latter-day Saint Life

The simple tradition that strengthened Ardeth Kapp’s marriage (that feels straight out of a storybook)

By Maddie Tolk

April 12, 2024 06:44 AM MDT

In an episode of the “All In” podcast that originally aired on March 9, 2022, Sister Ardeth Kapp shared insights from her 67+ years of marriage.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Beautiful new painting brings Jacob 5 to life (even if those 77 verses intimidate you)

By Maddie Tolk

April 10, 2024 08:00 AM MDT

Artist Chrisanne Serafin recently created a stunning painting of the master of the vineyard from Jacob 5 inspired by her Mexican ancestry.

1 Min Read

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Latter-day Saint Life

‘Amazing Grace’ was sung for the first time at general conference—watch the Tabernacle Choir’s powerful rendition

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 07:21 PM MDT

During the Saturday evening session of general conference, the Utah Valley Institute Choir sang “Amazing Grace” as the final number. Here's another one of our favorite performances of the beloved hymn.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

When was the last time someone outside the First Presidency conducted a session of general conference?

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 02:10 PM MDT

President Dallin H. Oaks announced that members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will conduct three of the five sessions of conference.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

The small miracle that assured Greg Olsen his mother was watching over him from the other side

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 09:58 AM MDT

Watch this short video to hear why a tender experience at his mother’s grave forever impacted Greg Olsen’s art.

1 Min Read

Feature Stories

BYU–Hawaii’s choral director uses her voice in a big way—from aiding refugees to building harmony in the Church

By Maddie Tolk

March 28, 2024 03:05 PM MDT

Erica Glenn conducts more than music. She uses her testimony to promote peace and harmony in diversity—in choirs, the global Church, and beyond.

8 Min Read

Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Latter-day Saint Life

Andy Reid says his faith influences ‘everything’ about how he coaches the Kansas City Chiefs

By Maddie Tolk

March 22, 2024 01:37 PM MDT

From handling the viral sidelines moment with Travis Kelce to modeling clean language, Andy Reid says he banks on his faith as a “game plan” for life.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

6 simple ways to make Easter as magical as Christmas + an Easter-themed set you’ll love as much as your nativity

By Maddie Tolk

March 20, 2024 02:42 PM MDT

Looking for creative Easter traditions focused on Christ? Try these seven easy ideas, like getting a peace lily or enjoying Easter “carols.”

5 Min Read

US Olympic Trial: Track & Field (Marathon)

Latter-day Saint Life

2 Olympics-bound runners boldly testify of faith on CNN: ‘There is more to this life than running’

By Maddie Tolk

March 14, 2024 02:58 PM MDT

Former BYU distance runners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young spoke with CNN about how the gospel has impacted their journeys to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Keep calm, renovate a cabin—newlyweds rely on (and share) their faith in new reality show ‘Cabin Wars’

By Maddie Tolk

March 14, 2024 07:53 AM MDT

When Jessica and Jeremy Rock competed in a new reality series, they had opportunities to share the gospel and strengthen their own foundation.

5 Min Read

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Feature Stories

5 new paintings of the Savior so striking they stopped us in our tracks

By Maddie Tolk

March 06, 2024 12:57 PM MST

Art makes it easier to sense how personally the Savior loves us. Five artists, each with a distinct style, share how and why they paint Jesus.

11 Min Read

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 26: Manti Te'o #51 of the New Orleans Saints looks on from the sideline during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 26, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Latter-day Saint Life

Former NFL and Notre Dame star shares how he found hope after public humiliation and depression

By Maddie Tolk

March 01, 2024 09:13 AM MST

Manti Te’o was targeted in a high-profile catfishing scam in 2012. The experience brought him to a dark place, but he found light again through Christ.

3 Min Read

Elder Ulisses Soares and Sister Rosana Soares at the Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults in Mexico City, Mexico, on Sunday, February 18, 2024.

Latter-day Saint Life

Elder and Sister Soares answer a question on perfectionism in the best way

By Maddie Tolk

February 20, 2024 01:41 PM MST

“We know that the space between His arms has been consecrated through His loving, atoning sacrifice, as a place for us.”

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

7-year-old sings the national anthem at BYU basketball game—and she’s too cute for words

By Maddie Tolk

February 14, 2024 09:19 AM MST

Seven-year-old Lucy Llewellyn performed a stunning rendition of the National Anthem at the BYU men's basketball game on February 10, 2024.

1 Min Read

Back view of anonymous female in coat with scarf and hat holding hands in pockets and looking away while strolling on snowy road on winter day in Dresden, Germany.

Latter-day Saint Life

How the Book of Mormon sustained one woman through infertility and a difficult international move

By Maddie Tolk

February 09, 2024 12:08 PM MST

The light of clear direction didn’t come all at once, but Morgan Choi found comfort by studying the Book of Mormon.

3 Min Read

Heart with headphones on a wooden table.

Latter-day Saint Life

These 8 podcast episodes on Christlike love are must-listens before Valentine’s Day

By Maddie Tolk

February 07, 2024 02:08 PM MST

With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’ve chosen our favorite podcast episodes to help you find ideas to love others more deeply as the Savior would.

5 Min Read

Photo of a young couple checking their flight status on the flight information board at the airport.

Latter-day Saint Life

What my long-distance relationship is teaching me about how to feel God’s love

By Maddie Tolk

February 07, 2024 02:08 PM MST

These five long-distance relationship tips have completely changed my perspective on feeling God’s love.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

5 blessings of tithing that are easy to overlook but transform lives

By Maddie Tolk

December 07, 2023 06:00 AM MST

God promises to provide powerful blessings when we live the law of tithing. But the fruits of obeying this commandment aren't always what we expect.

7 Min Read

Sister Tracy Y. Browning speaks at the First Presidency's 2023 Christmas devotional.

From the Church

Depression had me in darkness—how Sister Browning’s Christmas message led me to light

By Maddie Tolk

December 04, 2023 12:24 PM MST

Whether you’re managing depression or struggling to find joy this season, the First Presidency Christmas devotional invites us to remember the light.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

The crucial phrase we often forget from the second great commandment

By Maddie Tolk

May 17, 2023 07:00 AM MDT

“God’s commandment to love and serve His children includes loving and serving ourselves—not only because self-love fills us with more love to give others, but also because He wants us to love ourselves the way He loves us.”

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How a World-Renowned Artist Converted to the Church and Shares His Faith Through Unique Art

By Maddie Tolk

November 13, 2018 02:02 PM MST

Latter-day Saint artist Jorge Cocco Santángelo (Jorge Cocco) has always felt the calling to create. “There isn’t one point in time when I became an artist. I just developed as one,” he says.

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

4 Tips for Managing Your Family's Screen Time

By Maddie Tolk

August 30, 2017 09:06 PM MDT

Technology can be an amazing blessing. It allows us to connect with family and friends, to spread the gospel, to participate in family history work, and to access spiritual and educational resources almost instantly. While technology can be a powerful tool for good, it can also be a distraction from the things that matter most. In a CES devotional for young adults, Elder Ballard taught:

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

4 Tips for Those Who Experience Anxiety in the Temple and at Church

By Maddie Tolk

August 12, 2017 09:00 AM MDT

Latter-day Saints are promised blessings such as peace, strength, and increased spirituality when we attend church regularly and go to the temple often. But for those who live with some form of mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, it is not always easy or comfortable to attend church and go to the temple and feel the effects of those promised blessings.

4 Min Read