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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.

Grandfather and grandson hanging decorations on Christmas tree at home together
Latter-day Saint Life
An easy way to give your family a spiritual boost this Christmas
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 05, 2025 02:00 PM MST
This activity only takes a few minutes but leaves a lasting impact.
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Thanksgiving table setting with an open Bible and autumn decorations
Latter-day Saint Life
Why gratitude can open your heart to receiving revelation
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 24, 2025 03:02 PM MST
Thanksgiving just might be an ideal time to seek revelation.
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Elder Kevin G. Brown speaks at the October 2025 general conference
Latter-day Saint Life
Why Elder Kevin Brown’s conference talk hit home for so many
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 13, 2025 09:19 AM MST
“Elder Brown’s testimony was so powerful it caught my teenager’s attention from the other room,” one mother shared.
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Dallin H. Oaks and Kristen M. Oaks smile with seven of their great-grandchildren
Follow the Prophets
3 sweet traditions Pres. Oaks has with his grandchildren
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 12, 2025 02:15 PM MST
To help each grandchild feel special, President Oaks has a tradition of honoring a “Grandchild of the Month.”
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Dirt road in autumn forest in fog
Help for Life Challenges
One of the best verses for when life doesn’t go as planned
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 06, 2025 03:46 PM MST
This scripture can help reassure anyone facing an unexpected life path.
2 Min Read
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Expressions of Jesus
Latter-day Saint Life
This beautiful art book is helping families talk about Christ
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 04, 2025 10:02 AM MST
“Everyone found a different painting that helped them feel connected to Jesus.”
2 Min Read
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Ancient oil lamp
Latter-day Saint Life
The first thing to remember about the parable of the ten virgins
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 29, 2025 02:19 PM MDT
There’s a hopeful detail from the story we can emphasize even more.
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A woman takes notes as she listens to the 195th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
Help for Life Challenges
The quote from conference that’s on my mind weeks later
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 28, 2025 09:32 AM MDT
“I’ll admit that when I first heard the sentence, I felt intimidated. But as I’ve pondered more, I’ve come to realize it teaches a profound truth.”
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President Jeffrey R. Holland speaks to youth during the October 2025 worldwide youth broadcast titled “Look unto Christ.”
Follow the Prophets
Pres. Holland’s counsel to youth that everyone needs to hear
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 27, 2025 01:58 PM MDT
At a recent devotional. President Holland shared timeless wisdom.
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The Feather River California Temple in Yuba City, California.
Temple Worship
5 helpful things to say to someone before they receive their endowment
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 13, 2025 08:52 AM MDT
Try these talking points to start more meaningful conversations about the endowment.
7 Min Read
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President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, opens the Sunday morning session of 195th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.
Temple Worship
The last time no new temples were announced during general conference
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 08, 2025 03:16 PM MDT
Here’s a quick look back at new temple announcements during general conference.
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President Russell M. Nelson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, waves to conferencegoers as he enters the afternoon session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024.
Follow the Prophets
10 ways Pres. Nelson invited you to prepare for the Second Coming
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 28, 2025 06:00 AM MDT
Do you remember these 10 prophetic invitations?
1 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 24, 2025 04:05 PM MDT
Sharon believes this approach can lead to more lasting solutions.
3 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 23, 2025 03:41 PM MDT
Elder Renlund suggests this approach will help us better recognize revelation.
1 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
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.
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
September 12, 2025 02:14 PM MDT
This counsel can help us move forward with confidence.
1 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
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
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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
Maddie Tolk
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
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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.
1 Min Read
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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.
1 Min Read
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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.
1 Min Read
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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.
2 Min Read
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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.
4 Min Read
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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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