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.

Sharon Eubank greets someone Mormon Women for Ethical Government conference at UVU

Latter-day Saint Life

The first thing Sharon Eubank tells people who want to help others more

By Maddie Tolk

September 24, 2025 04:05 PM MDT

Sharon believes this approach can lead to more lasting solutions.

3 Min Read

A young woman prays with an open Bible on her lap.

Latter-day Saint Life

A way to hear God’s answers more clearly when you’re making decisions

By Maddie Tolk

September 23, 2025 03:41 PM MDT

Elder Renlund suggests this approach will help us better recognize revelation.

1 Min Read

Meditative senior man looking up at sky with serious expression

Latter-day Saint Life

One of the most important ways to prepare for life-changing revelation

By Maddie Tolk

September 16, 2025 09:43 AM MDT

“Life-changing revelation is not reserved for prophets,” Dale G. Renlund writes in his new book.

1 Min Read

A graphic of a woman thinking next to a question-mark bubble

Follow the Prophets

Is a thought from me or the Spirit? Elder Renlund’s advice for when you feel uncertain

By Maddie Tolk

September 12, 2025 02:14 PM MDT

This counsel can help us move forward with confidence.

1 Min Read

President Russell M. Nelson member devotional on September 1, 2018.

Stories of Faith

What it was like to be in President Nelson’s home ward

By Maddie Tolk

September 10, 2025 01:55 PM MDT

“Interacting with President Nelson—even briefly—has given me a glimpse of the Savior’s deep and abiding love.”

3 Min Read

Ben and Chad Truman in the Give Me This Mountain music video

Help for Life Challenges

This music video will help you face your trials with more faith

By Maddie Tolk

September 09, 2025 04:19 PM MDT

Featuring stunning shots across New Zealand, the video honors a relative who passed away from terminal brain cancer.

4 Min Read

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is photographed in his office at the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

Follow the Prophets

Read Pres. Nelson’s 101st birthday essay for ‘Time’ magazine

By Maddie Tolk

September 05, 2025 03:28 PM MDT

In the global publication, the prophet shared two truths that contribute to lasting peace.

1 Min Read

President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, right, talks with Elder Brian K. Taylor, a General Authority Seventy and president of the Church’s Utah Area, before the closing devotional of the 2025 Utah Area Young Single Adult Conference, held in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Follow the Prophets

10 golden pieces of life advice from Pres. Holland’s new devotional

By Maddie Tolk

September 02, 2025 03:23 PM MDT

The Apostle shared pivotal lessons about how he came closer to Christ.

1 Min Read

Jeffrey R. Holland Social Media Video August 28, 2025

Follow the Prophets

Pres. Holland’s comforting advice for staying calm in the last days

By Maddie Tolk

August 29, 2025 02:19 PM MDT

“It’s going to be OK,” he reassured. “Be still and know that God is God and all flesh is in His hands.”

2 Min Read

A woman prays next to her bed near her open scriptures

Latter-day Saint Life

How to open your heart to receive more revelation

By Maddie Tolk

August 27, 2025 09:40 AM MDT

Are you receptive to all the beautiful possibilities God has in store?

1 Min Read

Sun beams breaking through the clouds at sunset

Help for Life Challenges

3 words to remember when you can’t seem to feel God’s love

By Maddie Tolk

August 25, 2025 12:17 PM MDT

You can trust in this phrase even when God feels far away.

2 Min Read

Jan and Kelly Wigington with Youngchan Kim and Jaehwan Jung

Stories of Faith

He mentioned his mission to a stranger. A cascade of miracles followed

By Maddie Tolk

August 13, 2025 04:10 PM MDT

Kelly often wondered if he’d made a lasting impact during his mission—now, he had an answer.

4 Min Read

President Jeffrey R. Holland, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, sits down for an interview in Toronto, Ontario, on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Follow the Prophets

Pres. Holland answers, ‘How do I know when I’m forgiven of my sins?’

By Maddie Tolk

August 05, 2025 02:22 PM MDT

Here’s what President Holland shared to support anyone grappling with this personal question.

2 Min Read

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

Fun

LDS Friends Star in Their Own Food Network Show Thanks to Their Unbelievable Gingerbread Creations (Photos)

By Maddie Tolk

August 08, 2017 03:00 PM MDT

Elisa Barber and Brenda Nibley are receiving national attention for their unique cookie creations. Barber, who owns The Baking Hive, a bakery in the Salt Lake Valley, attended culinary school in Ireland and gained experience as a chef in a prominent London Michelin Star restaurant and leading London bakery. Barber's friend Nibley has a natural flair for creating gingerbread houses and owns an artisan cookie architecture company called GingerGiddy. Together they have created some spectacular gingerbread houses.

1 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