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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.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Illustration of a happy woman smiling at herself in the mirror.
Latter-day Saint Life
The myth of searching for your ‘true self’
Maddie Tolk
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
Maddie Tolk
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
Maddie Tolk
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.
2 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 24, 2025 02:11 PM MDT
The composer based the song on a turning point in her experiences with anxiety.
2 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 23, 2025 01:54 PM MDT
This framework helps remind us that God is always reaching out to us.
2 Min Read
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The Hartford Connecticut Temple
Temple Worship
Practical advice for first-time temple goers
Maddie Tolk
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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
June 11, 2025 02:22 PM MDT
This breathtaking image is composed of stones, seashells, fossils, and wood.
4 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 29, 2025 02:00 PM MDT
“You are loved so much more than you can imagine,” Elder Kearon affirmed.
1 Min Read
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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’
Maddie Tolk
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.
3 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
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
Maddie Tolk
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. 
8 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
May 21, 2025 01:55 PM MDT
Two countries outside the US will have over 20 temples.
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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’
Maddie Tolk
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.
3 Min Read
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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’
Maddie Tolk
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.
2 Min Read
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President Russell M. Nelson at the Deseret Peak Utah Temple Dedication
From the Church
Experience the 200th temple dedication with these beautiful photos
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 11, 2024 03:02 PM MST
Here are 10 of our favorite snapshots from the historic dedication last weekend.
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Woman looking up
Help for Life Challenges
One of the best antidotes to fear of the future
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 07, 2024 02:41 PM MST
This divine gift is a powerful way to navigate anything that comes our way.
2 Min Read
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Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks during a worldwide devotional for young adults held at Brigham Young University–Idaho on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
Follow the Prophets
Elder Bednar spoke boldly on AI—5 quotes to know from his devotional
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 05, 2024 10:06 AM MST
Read five key points from Elder Bednar on navigating artificial intelligence with the Spirit.
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Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles poses for a photo with 9-year-old Garrett Rawlins, left, and 9-year-old Bo Burtenshaw, right. Both boys are in the Syracuse Utah West Stake and met Elder Stevenson at a high school football game in northern Utah on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Latter-day Saint Life
9-year-old’s story about meeting Elder Stevenson will melt your heart
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 31, 2024 02:31 PM MDT
After learning he wasn’t chosen to sing in the conference children’s choir, Bo happened to run into Elder Stevenson at a football game.
2 Min Read
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