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.

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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.

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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

By Maddie Tolk

July 14, 2025 03:29 PM MDT

This framework can provide greater insight into our relationship with the Savior.

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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

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.

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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

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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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.

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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.

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Chad Hymas 2

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.

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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.

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A confident Black woman with curly hair

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.

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The Hartford Connecticut Temple

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.

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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.

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Elder Patrick Kearon smiles while speaking from a church podium.

Follow the Prophets

Watch: Deeply moving clip of Elder Kearon testifying of Christ’s love to Filipino Saints

By Maddie Tolk

May 29, 2025 02:00 PM MDT

“You are loved so much more than you can imagine,” Elder Kearon affirmed.

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A woman wearing a striped shirt holds her hands over her heart.

Latter-day Saint Life

It’s time we stop limiting revelation to a ‘burning in the bosom’

By Maddie Tolk

May 27, 2025 02:26 PM MDT

Feeling a “burning in the bosom” is one pattern for receiving revelation that may not be helpful for everyone.

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The sun sets behind the Conference Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Latter-day Saint Life

For the first time, you can go to free concerts on the Conference Center rooftop

By Maddie Tolk

May 27, 2025 01:43 PM MDT

Enjoy free, family-friendly concerts near Temple Square this summer.

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Allison Hong Merrill Mission and Baptism in Taiwan

Stories of Faith

After being disowned then stranded, she found healing from the temple

By Maddie Tolk

May 23, 2025 01:37 PM MDT

At age 21, Allison was disowned by her father. Then, only two years later, she was stranded by her first husband in an unfamiliar country. 

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The Nairobi Kenya Temple in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, May 17, 2025.

Temple Worship

6 temple stats that might surprise you

By Maddie Tolk

May 21, 2025 01:55 PM MDT

Two countries outside the US will have over 20 temples.

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A painting of a young woman playing the violin with a painting of Jesus Christ in the background.

Latter-day Saint Life

Greek words that will change how you think about perfection

By Maddie Tolk

May 16, 2025 01:59 PM MDT

Have you heard of katartismós or téleios?

2 Min Read

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson, April 2025 general conference

Follow the Prophets

What may be the best, most genuine form of worship

By Maddie Tolk

May 15, 2025 01:47 PM MDT

This insight from Elder Christofferson can bring even more meaning to how you worship God.

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President Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks before the ribbon-cutting for the reopening of the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, September 29, 2015.

Help for Life Challenges

President Holland shares how to heal from broken dreams

By Maddie Tolk

November 22, 2024 04:00 PM MST

Remember this principle when life’s disappointments seem to break you down.

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Latter-day Saint Life

A simple way to fill your home with Christmas magic

By Maddie Tolk

November 21, 2024 02:01 PM MST

Your family will gravitate toward these bright, Christ-centered decorations.

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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 has invited you to prepare for the Second Coming

By Maddie Tolk

November 20, 2024 01:57 PM MST

Do you remember these 10 prophetic invitations?

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08_November-10,-2024_Elder_Ulisses_Soares_Europe_Ministry_Paris.jpeg

Follow the Prophets

Elder Soares shares emotional story of losing his son, finding comfort in the gospel

By Maddie Tolk

November 15, 2024 02:23 PM MST

While burying his infant son, Elder Ulisses Soares received a clear prompting from the Lord.

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President Russell M. Nelson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, smiles during 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, October 6, 2024.

Follow the Prophets

What Pres. Nelson said is ‘the most crucial question we each must answer’

By Maddie Tolk

November 13, 2024 03:58 PM MST

Answering this simple question may just be the key to true satisfaction and eternal joy.

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President Jeffrey R. Holland speaks at a multistake conference in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

Follow the Prophets

Watch: Pres. Holland declares what is ‘never, ever, ever going to fail’

By Maddie Tolk

November 13, 2024 01:57 PM MST

“It is the one thing that I know for sure is going to succeed,” President Holland shared in an inspiring new video.

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