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

5 Songs We Don't Sing in Church Anymore

By Maddie Tolk

July 03, 2017 09:38 AM MDT

The Church has used many different hymnals throughout its history. In July 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith received the revelation known today as Doctrine and Covenants Section 25. In the revelation, the Lord instructed Emma Smith to compile a selection of sacred hymns for the Church. She completed a hymnal in 1835 with the assistance of William W. Phelps, a writer and newspaper editor. The collection of hymns included 90 hymn texts, with 39 hymns written by LDS poets as well as adaptations of several other non-LDS texts. The preface to the 1835 Collection of Sacred Hymns states:

2 Min Read

Fun

Watch: LDS Family Performs Beautiful Acapella Rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner"

By Maddie Tolk

June 30, 2017 04:06 PM MDT

Music plays an important role in the lives of LDS opera singer Debbie Siebert and her husband, Jim Siebert, who works as the chief meteorologist for Fox 26 News in Houston. They love to sing together with their four children—Ashley, Emmie, Grant, and Dallin— and enjoy sharing their testimonies of the gospel through acapella hymn videos, which they create as a Sunday family activity and post on social media using the hashtag #hymnselfie.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

First-Ever Mormon Arts Festival Set to Open in New York

By Maddie Tolk

June 27, 2017 03:08 PM MDT

On June 29 through July 1, 2017, Mormon artists, musicians, and scholars will gather from all over the world to participate in the first-ever Mormon Arts Center Festival. The festival will take place in New York City at the recently established Mormon Arts Center and is co-directed by Richard Bushman, the Gouverneur Morris Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University, and Glen Nelson, the founder/director of the Mormon Artists Group.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

LDS Teen with Disabilities Heading to the 2017 National Miss Amazing Pageant

By Maddie Tolk

June 23, 2017 04:23 PM MDT

Earlier this year, 17-year-old Abigail Manery was crowned the 2017 Idaho Miss Amazing Teen Queen. She is currently preparing to compete at the National Miss Amazing Pageant, which will take place this August in Chicago, Illinois. Abby will be featured in an upcoming documentary highlighting her preparations for the pageant, as well as her life and the disabilities she lives with daily.

1 Min Read

Fun

11 Incredible Mormon Moments Caught on Google Earth

By Maddie Tolk

June 21, 2017 07:56 PM MDT

Thanks to mybestlds.com for the story idea.

1 Min Read

Famous Latter-day Saints

LDS YouTuber on Forbes' 30 Under 30 Launches New eSports Gaming Brand

By Maddie Tolk

June 20, 2017 02:49 PM MDT

LDS YouTuber and social-media celebrity Shaun McBride, better known by his online name Shonduras, has made a large impact in the internet community. Recently he launched an eSports gaming brand called "Spacestation Gaming," which will start competing in the Smite eSport professional leagues with a top tier North American team and aims to expand eventually into other games and opportunities.

1 Min Read