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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.

A mother, daughter, and father wearing winter clothes at a Christmas market smile looking at a mobile phone together.
Latter-day Saint Life
20 ways to serve on Christmas Day
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 18, 2024 03:07 PM MST
Looking for ideas to make Christmas Day even more meaningful? Here are some fun ways to help your family focus on giving.
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Kathy and D. Todd Christofferson Christmas Tradition
Follow the Prophets
Sister Christofferson’s gingerbread house is seriously impressive—and supports a beautiful cause
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 17, 2024 02:18 PM MST
“I marvel each year at what Kathy makes happen,” Elder Christofferson shared in a recent social media post.
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Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Jennifer, meet with new members of the Church during a devotional in Quezon City on August 18, 2024.
Follow the Prophets
Watch: Elder Kearon’s counsel for when you fear you’ll never measure up
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 16, 2024 02:09 PM MST
Here’s what we may misunderstand about divine love when we worry Christ’s Atonement can’t cover us.
1 Min Read
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A congregation in a Latter-day Saint chapel sings from the hymnbook.
Latter-day Saint Life
Do you mumble the hymns? 2 forms of power you receive by singing with your heart
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 12, 2024 03:42 PM MST
“Are we joining together to praise our God and King no matter the quality of our voices?” —Elder Patrick Kearon
3 Min Read
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Iam Tongi Sings "Silent Night" with the Rexburg Children's Choir
Latter-day Saint Life
Watch: ‘American Idol’ winner’s soul-stirring rendition of ‘Silent Night’
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 12, 2024 03:28 PM MST
Iam Tongi’s powerful version of the hymn also features a choir of 100 children.
1 Min Read
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Screenshots from Elder Dale G. Renlund, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, and Elder Patrick Kearon speaking at First Presidency Christmas Devotionals for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Follow the Prophets
Christmas traditions from 3 Apostles to help bring the Spirit to your holiday season
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 09, 2024 10:54 AM MST
Try these simple activities to keep your family’s focus on the Savior.
3 Min Read
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Latter-day Saint Life
A simple way to feel connected to Christ in the here and now
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
December 05, 2024 05:09 PM MST
“This practice helps me feel the Savior’s grace on a more tangible level.”
3 Min Read
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An illustration of a father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, and two children enjoying a Thanksgiving meal at the table.
Latter-day Saint Life
The best question to ask your family this Thanksgiving
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 25, 2024 12:52 PM MST
Share this powerful prompt during your dinner to foster happy feelings.
3 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 22, 2024 04:00 PM MST
Remember this principle when life’s disappointments seem to break you down.
1 Min Read
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Latter-day Saint Life
A simple way to fill your home with Christmas magic
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 21, 2024 02:01 PM MST
Your family will gravitate toward these bright, Christ-centered decorations.
3 Min Read
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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
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
November 20, 2024 01:57 PM MST
Do you remember these 10 prophetic invitations?
1 Min Read
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Follow the Prophets
Elder Soares shares emotional story of losing his son, finding comfort in the gospel
Maddie Tolk
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.
2 Min Read
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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.
1 Min Read
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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 just 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.
1 Min Read
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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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Two young girls sing from the LDS hymnbook at church
Latter-day Saint Life
Easy ways to help your ward start singing the new hymns
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 24, 2024 04:46 PM MDT
This is an exciting time in the history of Church music, and we all can incorporate these new hymns to come closer to Christ.
4 Min Read
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President Henry B. Eyring and his granddaughter
Follow the Prophets
Pres. Eyring’s new post will change how you think about the Holy Ghost
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 24, 2024 02:37 PM MDT
After his granddaughter’s baptism, President Eyring shared a tender reflection about the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1 Min Read
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Jenny Oaks Baker with President Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Kristen M. Oaks
Stories of Faith
What Pres. Oaks said to his daughter that shaped her faith and life decisions
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 17, 2024 01:50 PM MDT
This fatherly advice has been a guiding light for Jenny Oaks Baker long past high school, helping her navigate crucial life decisions.
3 Min Read
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Ore Kaffo smiling
Stories of Faith
After being abducted as a child, this woman found faith and healing—read her remarkable story
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 15, 2024 02:10 PM MDT
Ore Kaffo lived with her foster parents until a fateful day when she was almost 7 years old.
5 Min Read
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Iowa State v Brigham Young
Stories of Faith
Jewish quarterback and BYU are a winning team in more ways than one
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 14, 2024 05:21 PM MDT
The BYU football team has caught the attention of both CBS and ESPN—and not just because of its winning streak.
1 Min Read
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A woman holds a sacrament tray with water cups
Latter-day Saint Life
Want more spiritual power? Focus on this word during (and after) the sacrament
Maddie Tolk
By  Maddie Tolk
October 10, 2024 11:08 AM MDT
While we sometimes forget the true meaning of this word, saying it intentionally draws spiritual strength into our lives.
2 Min Read
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