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 returned LDS missionary with her sister on her homecoming day

Latter-day Saint Life

The best thing to do with your missionary as soon as they get home

By Maddie Tolk

July 31, 2025 03:32 PM MDT

“This may be the most memorable thing we did when my sister returned home from serving her mission.”

2 Min Read

Young women from the LDS Firth Idaho Stake

Latter-day Saint Life

Watch: Moving song written at girls camp by 200+ young women

By Maddie Tolk

July 30, 2025 03:41 PM MDT

More than a campfire sing-along, the experience solidified the participants’ confidence as disciples of Jesus Christ.

2 Min Read

President Jeffrey R. Holland speaks about a scripture passage from the Doctrine and Covenants in a social media video on July 15, 2025.

Follow the Prophets

A scripture passage President Holland often shares with youth

By Maddie Tolk

July 29, 2025 02:35 PM MDT

These verses may be just what the youth in your life need to hear.

2 Min Read

Elder Gary E. Stevenson “Come, Follow Me” 2025 video

Follow the Prophets

The perfect scripture for when challenges feel too hard to bear

By Maddie Tolk

July 28, 2025 09:09 AM MDT

Elder Stevenson recently shared some beautiful counsel from the Doctrine and Covenants.

2 Min Read

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

By Maddie Tolk

July 23, 2025 03:40 PM MDT

This week marks 50 years since the building was dedicated.

1 Min Read

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

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.

1 Min Read

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

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.

1 Min Read

Temple Worship

5 beautiful blessings of temple worship

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.

1 Min Read

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

By Maddie Tolk

July 14, 2025 03:29 PM MDT

This framework can provide greater insight into our relationship with the Savior.

2 Min Read

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

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.

4 Min Read

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

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.

2 Min Read

Illustration of a happy woman smiling at herself in the mirror.

Latter-day Saint Life

The myth of searching for your ‘true self’

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.

2 Min Read

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

By Maddie Tolk

June 30, 2025 03:03 PM MDT

For a hymn centered on joy, the lyrics originate from a surprising place.

1 Min Read

Stories of Faith

A quadriplegic man’s faith to not be healed

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.

2 Min Read

A woman pondering during an LDS sacrament meeting

Help for Life Challenges

This new hymn is a must-listen if you have anxiety

By Maddie Tolk

June 24, 2025 02:11 PM MDT

The composer based the song on a turning point in her experiences with anxiety.

2 Min Read

Help for Life Challenges

A 2-word mantra to help you recognize personal revelation more often

By Maddie Tolk

June 23, 2025 01:54 PM MDT

This framework helps remind us that God is always reaching out to us.

2 Min Read

Temple Worship

Practical advice for first-time temple goers

By Maddie Tolk

June 20, 2025 02:13 PM MDT

These two suggestions can help you find more joy in your temple worship.

2 Min Read

Shelby Stroud in front of "A Sure Foundation"

Stories of Faith

Must-see portrait of Christ made with seashells

By Maddie Tolk

June 11, 2025 02:22 PM MDT

This breathtaking image is composed of stones, seashells, fossils, and wood.

4 Min Read

Fun

Little-Known Hobbies and Hidden Talents of General Authorities

By Maddie Tolk

August 05, 2017 09:00 AM MDT

Many members of the Church feel a deep connection with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As we read their words and listen to them speak twice a year in general conference, we are able to learn from their unique spiritual strengths and distinct teaching styles. Since we are accustomed to seeing Church leaders in spiritual settings, it can be tempting to think of these men only in a spiritual light; however, they are multidimensional people with individual interests and personalities.

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How an LDS Teen's "Happy List" of Over 19,000 Items Has Inspired Others to Live with More Joy

By Maddie Tolk

August 02, 2017 01:00 PM MDT

When the Church released the Christmas video "A Savior is Born" in December 2015, LDS teen Annie Weight noticed it repeated the word "rejoice" several times. She was touched by its hopeful message and felt inspired to live a more positive lifestyle. "Throughout the Christmas season and the beginning of the new year, I thought a lot about joy, what it meant to others, and what it meant to me," said Weight. "After a lot of thought, I decided that I wanted to be happier with my life and I decided to start keeping a list of all the things in my life that made me happy."

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

LDS Teen Makes History as North Dakota's First Musician to Perform at Carnegie Hall with NYO2, Shares Faith

By Maddie Tolk

July 17, 2017 11:51 AM MDT

On July 18th, 2017, LDS 17-year-old Kari Jenks will become the first musician from North Dakota to perform at Carnegie Hall with the National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2). Launched in the summer of 2016 by Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, NYO2 is an intensive orchestral training program designed for talented young musicians ages 14–17.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Wife of WWII POW Shares How a Patriarchal Blessing and Her Faith in God Allowed Her to Sustain Hope

By Maddie Tolk

July 14, 2017 03:15 PM MDT

When Amber Richardson read a quote by J.O. Young in the best-selling biography Unbroken, she was initially surprised. Brother Young lived in her home ward and she had remembered hearing him tell stories about his experiences as a prisoner of war during World War II; however, she had never made the connection to Unbroken. As she thought more about Brother Young's experiences, she realized she had never heard his wife's side of the story.

1 Min Read

Fun

LDS Twins Perform Epic Fiddle Cover of "Toxic" on ABC's "The Gong Show"

By Maddie Tolk

July 13, 2017 06:52 PM MDT

LDS brothers Jason and Jeffrey Linford are not only identical twins but also business partners and rising musicians. In addition to performing music, they run and own a pest control company in Mesa, Arizona. Recently "The Hollywood Bug Guys" performed an exterminator-themed fiddle number on ABC's newly revived The Gong Show.

1 Min Read

Famous Latter-day Saints

Returned Missionaries Star in Popular Discovery Channel Reality TV Show "Diesel Brothers"

By Maddie Tolk

July 08, 2017 01:00 PM MDT

LDS entrepreneurs David Sparks and David Kiley are not exactly what you might think of as stereotypical returned missionaries. Better known as "Heavy D" and "Diesel Dave," these two friends own and operate DieselSellerz—the world's largest marketplace related to anything diesel. In January 2016, Discovery Channel aired the hit reality TV show, Diesel Brothers, which highlights the friends' custom vehicle builds, crazy stunts, and elaborate pranks.

1 Min Read