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.

President Dallin H. Oaks April 2026 general conference

Follow the Prophets

What Pres. Oaks said in his first conference as the prophet

By Maddie Tolk

April 05, 2026 04:12 PM MDT

Here are four themes President Dallin H. Oaks shared this weekend.

2 Min Read

Help for Life Challenges

Stirring new painting depicts how Christ eases our personal burdens

By Maddie Tolk

April 03, 2026 02:14 PM MDT

The image depicts the Savior gently placing His hands on the shoulders of a discouraged man.

4 Min Read

Stories of Faith

How one artist captures the Savior’s presence without painting Him

By Maddie Tolk

March 20, 2026 03:24 PM MDT

Morgan Casteel believes that landscape art can communicate the Savior’s love in special ways.

2 Min Read

LDS scriptures triple combination with the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price

Latter-day Saint Life

The scripture we hear so often we may not fully appreciate

By Maddie Tolk

January 28, 2026 03:39 PM MST

These verses imply a vital truth about our divine identity.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

6 Hebrew words every Latter-day Saint should know

By Maddie Tolk

January 21, 2026 01:47 PM MST

These powerful definitions can help shine a new light on the Old Testament.

6 Min Read

Hand of woman picking apple in orchard - stock photo

Latter-day Saint Life

6 beautiful truths we know about Eve

By Maddie Tolk

January 15, 2026 03:30 PM MST

These restored truths clarify Eve’s courageous role in the plan of salvation.

2 Min Read

Temple Worship

9 exciting temple ‘firsts’ you may have missed

By Maddie Tolk

January 14, 2026 09:30 AM MST

Last year was filled with new temple milestones.

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

An inspiring detail we sometimes forget about the Council in Heaven

By Maddie Tolk

January 08, 2026 10:40 AM MST

The scriptures clarify a common misconception about the premortal council.

1 Min Read

Follow the Prophets

5 teachings from Pres. Oaks to help you with your goals

By Maddie Tolk

December 22, 2025 02:53 PM MST

These inspiring quotes will help you start the new year strong.

1 Min Read

Pres. Oaks, 2025 First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional

Follow the Prophets

5 inspiring things Pres. Oaks has said about Christmas

By Maddie Tolk

December 18, 2025 03:12 PM MST

“The spirit of Christmas brings out the best in us.”

1 Min Read

President Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Kristen M. Oaks smiling together

Follow the Prophets

4 words Sister Oaks would use to describe the prophet

By Maddie Tolk

December 11, 2025 02:20 PM MST

“He always tries to do what’s right,” Sister Oaks shared. “He doesn’t ever cut a corner.”

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

The special significance of ‘swaddling clothes’ in the Nativity

By Maddie Tolk

December 10, 2025 04:52 PM MST

More than a description of an “ordinary diaper and receiving blanket,” this clothing detail suggests several profound truths about Christ.

2 Min Read

The red cast (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday night shows) perform during the manger scene at a dress rehearsal of the “Savior of the World” production on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024.

Stories of Faith

25 years of ‘Savior of the World’: Actress shares miracles that brought her to the show

By Maddie Tolk

December 09, 2025 04:05 PM MST

Tens of thousands of people attend this beloved Church production every year.

5 Min Read

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

By Maddie Tolk

December 05, 2025 02:00 PM MST

This activity only takes a few minutes but leaves a lasting impact.

3 Min Read

Thanksgiving table setting with an open Bible and autumn decorations

Latter-day Saint Life

Why gratitude can open your heart to receiving revelation

By Maddie Tolk

November 24, 2025 03:02 PM MST

Thanksgiving just might be an ideal time to seek revelation.

1 Min Read

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

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.

2 Min Read

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

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.”

2 Min Read

Help for Life Challenges

One of the best verses for when life doesn’t go as planned

By Maddie Tolk

November 06, 2025 03:46 PM MST

This scripture can help reassure anyone facing an unexpected life path.

2 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

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