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.

Clayton and Ashley Young with their daughters at the 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials

Latter-day Saint Life

Advice from an Olympics-bound runner to help you succeed in life’s marathon

By Maddie Tolk

May 17, 2024 01:53 PM MDT

Olympics-bound runner Clayton Young and his wife, Ashley, recently spoke about how they aim for true excellence.

2 Min Read

A painting of a sparrow falling into strong hands.

Latter-day Saint Life

This painting took 12 years to come to the canvas. Here’s what it teaches about grief and ongoing healing

By Maddie Tolk

May 16, 2024 01:27 PM MDT

“In all of those moments of grief that come back, I feel God is there to catch me in them—over and over again.” —Jenedy Paige

1 Min Read

A young man and a young woman sitting on a hill talk and laugh together.

From the Church

Young adulting—13 quick and comforting quotes to help you make choices with confidence

By Maddie Tolk

May 06, 2024 04:08 PM MDT

From missions to marriage, young adulthood involves big decisions. Elder and Sister Godoy recently shared their tips for navigating this crucial time.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How can I share my pain with God without murmuring?

By Maddie Tolk

May 03, 2024 10:08 AM MDT

Lament—which is different than murmuring—is just as crucial to a covenant relationship with God as faith, praise, and gratitude.

2 Min Read

Elder David A. Bednar studies the scriptures.

Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Bednar’s 3 tips for having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion (rather than an occasional visitor)

By Maddie Tolk

May 02, 2024 06:32 AM MDT

How can we invite the Holy Ghost to always be with us? Here are three ideas from Elder Bednar.

3 Min Read

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks at a devotional at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Uchtdorf’s 3 simple steps to experience higher joy (+ a comforting reminder for when you’re struggling)

By Maddie Tolk

April 26, 2024 11:23 AM MDT

Challenges like depression can make it difficult to feel joy, but Elder Uchtdorf shared some comforting (and easy!) suggestions.

2 Min Read

The Orem Utah Temple in Orem on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

Latter-day Saint Life

How can the Book of Mormon help me understand what happens in the temple?

By Maddie Tolk

April 18, 2024 01:59 PM MDT

These 10 moments from the Book of Mormon reveal beautiful insights about temple covenants.

6 Min Read

Ardeth G. and Heber B. Kapp in Bountiful, Utah, after Sister Kapp was called to serve as Young Women General President.

Latter-day Saint Life

The simple tradition that strengthened Ardeth Kapp’s marriage (that feels straight out of a storybook)

By Maddie Tolk

April 12, 2024 06:44 AM MDT

In an episode of the “All In” podcast that originally aired on March 9, 2022, Sister Ardeth Kapp shared insights from her 67+ years of marriage.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Beautiful new painting brings Jacob 5 to life (even if those 77 verses intimidate you)

By Maddie Tolk

April 10, 2024 08:00 AM MDT

Artist Chrisanne Serafin recently created a stunning painting of the master of the vineyard from Jacob 5 inspired by her Mexican ancestry.

1 Min Read

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Latter-day Saint Life

‘Amazing Grace’ was sung for the first time at general conference—watch the Tabernacle Choir’s powerful rendition

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 07:21 PM MDT

During the Saturday evening session of general conference, the Utah Valley Institute Choir sang “Amazing Grace” as the final number. Here's another one of our favorite performances of the beloved hymn.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

When was the last time someone outside the First Presidency conducted a session of general conference?

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 02:10 PM MDT

President Dallin H. Oaks announced that members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will conduct three of the five sessions of conference.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

The small miracle that assured Greg Olsen his mother was watching over him from the other side

By Maddie Tolk

April 06, 2024 09:58 AM MDT

Watch this short video to hear why a tender experience at his mother’s grave forever impacted Greg Olsen’s art.

1 Min Read

Feature Stories

BYU–Hawaii’s choral director uses her voice in a big way—from aiding refugees to building harmony in the Church

By Maddie Tolk

March 28, 2024 03:05 PM MDT

Erica Glenn conducts more than music. She uses her testimony to promote peace and harmony in diversity—in choirs, the global Church, and beyond.

8 Min Read

Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers v Kansas City Chiefs

Latter-day Saint Life

Andy Reid says his faith influences ‘everything’ about how he coaches the Kansas City Chiefs

By Maddie Tolk

March 22, 2024 01:37 PM MDT

From handling the viral sidelines moment with Travis Kelce to modeling clean language, Andy Reid says he banks on his faith as a “game plan” for life.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

6 simple ways to make Easter as magical as Christmas + an Easter-themed set you’ll love as much as your nativity

By Maddie Tolk

March 20, 2024 02:42 PM MDT

Looking for creative Easter traditions focused on Christ? Try these seven easy ideas, like getting a peace lily or enjoying Easter “carols.”

5 Min Read

US Olympic Trial: Track & Field (Marathon)

Latter-day Saint Life

2 Olympics-bound runners boldly testify of faith on CNN: ‘There is more to this life than running’

By Maddie Tolk

March 14, 2024 02:58 PM MDT

Former BYU distance runners Conner Mantz and Clayton Young spoke with CNN about how the gospel has impacted their journeys to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Keep calm, renovate a cabin—newlyweds rely on (and share) their faith in new reality show ‘Cabin Wars’

By Maddie Tolk

March 14, 2024 07:53 AM MDT

When Jessica and Jeremy Rock competed in a new reality series, they had opportunities to share the gospel and strengthen their own foundation.

5 Min Read

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Feature Stories

5 new paintings of the Savior so striking they stopped us in our tracks

By Maddie Tolk

March 06, 2024 12:57 PM MST

Art makes it easier to sense how personally the Savior loves us. Five artists, each with a distinct style, share how and why they paint Jesus.

11 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