WEBVTT
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Hi everyone, welcome to the Highlands Range Ward Podcast.
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Thanks for taking the time to tune in and listen.
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This is Ruby.
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I'm your host today.
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Today I'll be interviewing Carissa Schaff.
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She's an amazing member of our ward.
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Thanks for joining us on the podcast today.
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All right.
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So with that said, I have a few questions for you.
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My first question is how did you convert to the gospel?
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Yeah, thanks.
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I'm glad to be here and talk about this stuff.
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So I was born and raised in the church.
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So there was kind of just a continuous slow conversion happening throughout my childhood and teenage years.
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Um, but I had a specific time in my life where my life plans changed drastically.
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I was in college and I just found myself having to turn to the Lord in a way that I never had before in my life.
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And through that, I found peace, comfort, and direction through my scripture study and my prayers.
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And um I was kind of specifically studying revelation and just trying to figure out how I could know what the Lord wanted for me in my life.
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And eventually this study and this turn to the Lord um it led me to be prompted to serve a mission.
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And I had never ever wanted to serve a mission before.
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Um, and so it was kind of a surprise to me and a surprise to everyone around me.
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It wasn't really a convenient time in my life.
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I was in the middle of um my nursing program at BYU, but I just knew that I had to go.
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And it was on my mission that I really feel like I uh I guess understood the significance of the restored gospel and of Christ's atonement.
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And I saw so many miracles and I saw how the Lord could work through his servants.
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And I just think that's that's really where my my conversion um blossomed.
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I really love that.
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I think that conversion is not just about um joining the church later in life, but like there's always a moment where we kind of submit everything to our Lord and his work.
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And I feel like sometimes it's later for some people and sometimes it's earlier, but it's really God's plan and what he has in store for you.
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Um my next question is what is your favorite family history story that inspires you?
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So last year, Riley had a project for school where she had to um look up a country that her ancestors immigrated from.
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And so we were looking up stories, and it was interesting because I'd never really looked up these stories from my family before.
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Um, and there was one story that really stuck out to both of us.
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It was the story of my great-great-great-grandmother, and her name is Gertrude, and she left Denmark in 1853 to come to America.
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Uh, she and her husband were converted to the gospel after being taught by missionaries, and then just left everything behind to join other saints in a journey to America to uh to be where the church was at the time.
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Um, and on this journey, uh Gertrude went through a lot of trials.
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They her family made it across the ocean fine and safely, but when they got to St.
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Louis, Missouri, um the disease cholera broke out among their party, and they had to like stop and quarantine.
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They kind of set up a like makeshift hospital out of tents and stuff.
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Um, and her first her two young sons got sick and sent to the hospital there and died.
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And then Gertrude herself got sick and was put in one of these hospitals.
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And um, for whatever reason, it makes no sense to me, but for whatever reason, they thought back then that the treatment for cholera was not giving the patients any food or water, which sounds like a really bad idea.
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But she was laying in a bed with, like, she said there's like six or so other patients in the room with her.
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And she was just kind of laying there expecting to die because she just felt so terrible, was so sick.
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And then she looked over and she saw a pail of water in the middle of the room.
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And it's like the nurses or whoever used it to like wipe the brows or the moisten the lips of the patients.
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But she saw that and she had the thought come to her if I can just get to that, like if I can just get a drink of water, I think I could get well.
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And so in the middle of the night, when no one was around, she like snuck and it was like really hard.
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She had to basically drag her body over to this pail of water, and she got water, took a drink, and then she got herself back in bed.
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And she was the only one of all of those patients in that room that didn't die and that survived.
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So I think that's a super interesting story and probably some kind of revelation, like, you know, prompting to go do that, which is interesting.
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But um, and then sadly she came back.
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She was reunited with her husband and her two-year-old son, who were the two that were left.
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And then her husband also got sick and died from cholera.
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Um, so it was just her and her two-year-old daughter left when they continued their journey.
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And I just think like how hard that would be to continue on and to not feel bitterness that, you know, you're following what you think you're supposed to do, you're trying to follow the Lord, trying to get to the saints in Salt Lake, and then most of your family dies on the way there.
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And I just think what faith it must have taken for her to just keep going.
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And then she continued to be a faithful member throughout her life.
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And I just think that that's a really, a really great lesson.
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I really, yeah, that's that's amazing.
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I love how um more of our church is kind of shifted on family history and our past.
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And I feel like it's not just important to dwell on the future and what we could strive to do, but also to look back on the past and the miracles that were provided for our family and our ancestors.
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And I feel like a lot of those stories that we can kind of notice, like the little uh the little miracles and stuff that might have been hard to see when they were in their trials and stuff.
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And yes, yeah, it's definitely important.
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I feel like filming history has definitely benefited me and my um my path.
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And yeah, it's it's been amazing.
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Um, my next question is what is your favorite scripture story of yours and why?
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So it's hard to choose a favorite, I feel like, but one of one that has always I've always loved and has always stuck with me is the story of the brother of Jared.
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Um, and obviously, like his story is amazing.
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His faith was obviously so great that he was able to see the hand of the Lord and then uh his whole the Lord's whole body.
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And I think that's that's amazing.
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But I I think about the Jaredites themselves, like the people that followed him and just the faith that it had for them to like seal themselves up in these barges that they made, by the way.
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I don't know how I wouldn't trust that if I made it, but like they sealed themselves up in these, they had no, they had some light from these stones, but they had like holes to open for air, and they were just gonna be like they didn't have a way to steer.
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And so to just like drop yourself in the ocean in these barges and just trust that God was gonna take you where you needed to be, that is like another level of faith.
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And um, I think it applies a lot to our lives, right?
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Like there are times when we feel like we don't have control and we're not we're not able to steer, and we kind of just have to, we kind of have to let Christ lead us and do it for us.
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And you know, this journey was not easy or comfortable, and yet they praised God and um were faithful, and I just think it's very it's something we can all learn from.
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I love it.
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Yeah, it's definitely an exercise of faith, and I love seeing that in the scriptures.
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Um my next question is what is a time you've struggled with something in your life and you felt Christ walking with you in that trial?
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So this question might as well just say, tell me about the last year and a half of your life, because that's kind of where I'm at.
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Um, as most people know, I have my sweet Jack that I found out he has trisomy 18 at 15 weeks pregnant.
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And uh finding that out was just devastating.
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It was absolutely crushing.
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Doctors told us that he wasn't likely to survive the pregnancy, and then if he did, he would probably not live more than a few hours, a few days.
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It was just, it was first of all very unknown, and also just uh didn't sound good.
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The odds weren't good.
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Um, and obviously, this was just so hard to hear.
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And I at the time just I had no idea how I was going to cope with this.
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I didn't know how I was going to go through an entire pregnancy, knowing I would eventually lose my baby.
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It just felt it, it really felt too heavy to carry.
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And I didn't know how I would ever be okay or have even have joy again.
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Um, but then the first of many miracles with Jack happened and I felt peace.
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I, you know, it didn't come right away, maybe, but uh I was kind of shocked at how I was able to find peace and comfort.
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And I know that that was through Jesus Christ.
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Um, I was thinking about the title Savior, and I think it takes on a whole new meaning when you actually feel that you have been saved by him.
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Like it's it's been it's a time in my life where on my own, I don't think I could have climbed out of that that dark hole, you know.
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And he he really um carried he carried me and is still carrying me through this this difficult trial.
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And um, I think the most surprising part is that I still can feel joy and I still can feel hope.
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And um obviously a lot of that comes from knowing that families are eternal and that Jack will someday be whole and perfect.
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Uh it doesn't make it easier, but it it makes it uh possible and and hopeful.
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Um, so yeah, I'm so grateful for for my savior and for giving me that that power through his atonement.
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Yes, thank you for sharing that.
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I know it's not easy to express the trials we're going through, but I really do admire you for putting strength and trust and faith in the Lord.
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Um my next question is what is an axe aspect of our ward that you feel has been a blessing in your life?
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I love our ward.
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They are just so loving and supporting.
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I obviously I I mean, I personally, my family has been served in countless ways by members in our ward.
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Um, I think this this genuine love that we have for each other allows our ward members to be more open and honest with each other, and it leads to better gospel discussions, it leads to better relationships, and it allows us to serve and love each other even better.
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Um, I think you know, we all have our differences, but we're all unified in our discipleship of Christ.
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And I just think that's a really special thing to have.
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Yes, I also I feel that too.
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I feel like we as a ward and as a whole do a very good job of keeping a family and community.
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And I feel like we're a good ward at um being united and love and sharing and inviting.
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Um, next question is what is a recent time that you felt the spirit?
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How do you recognize that the spirit is with you?
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So in primary, I'm in primary, and the kids are learning, singing a song that's called Wonderfully Made.
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And it's a really sweet song with an important message, and part of the chorus says, I am I am wonderfully made, crafted with care, and filled with his love, wonderfully made, formed in his image, I'm always enough.
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And every time we sing that song, I can't help but think about my sweet Jack.
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And I just have had the spirit whisper to me, really, every time I hear that song, that he is wonderfully made.
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And even though his body is not perfect, and a lot of people in the you know medical world would say he's maybe even a mistake, right?
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Like he has an extra chromosome he's not supposed to have.
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But I have been told through the spirit that um he's he's perfect, he's made the way that he's meant to be made.
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And I think that also teaches that none of us have perfect bodies, none of us are perfect in any way in this life, and um it doesn't change the fact that we are wonderfully and carefully created by a loving God.
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Our imperfections and limitations don't define us, but they refine us.
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And um yeah, and I guess to the second question, I think for me, the way that I know that the spirit is speaking to me can be different ways sometimes.
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But one is just a feeling of peace, like that's a big one, but also just like I feel like I just have thoughts that come to my mind, and this is one of those examples, just like when that song, when I hear that song, I have that thought repeatedly, and I just I just know that that comes from from the spirit.
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I love that, I love that so much.
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What was that thing you said about um they don't um define the yeah, they don't define us, they refine us.
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Uh that's that's golden.
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I love that.
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Um, my next question is if you could go 100 years in the future and talk to your posterity, what advice would you give them?
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Um I'd probably want to tell them a lot of things, but the probably the most important thing I could think to tell them is that true joy comes through Jesus Christ.
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Um, and it's so easy to go through life and forget that, to chase things that don't really bring you real happiness, um, or to wait for happiness to come from someone else or from something happening to you.
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My mom used to always say, I can't remember the exact quote, but she would always basically tell me like, don't rely on anyone else to make you happy.
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It's it's up to you to find your own happiness.
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And I think that's like such good advice because um if we wait for other people to bring us happiness or anything in life, then we're gonna be, we're gonna be disappointed.
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And the really, really the only true joy that comes is through Jesus Christ and his gospel.
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I love that so much.
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Um nearing an end, I just want to say thank you so much.
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And um, Sister Shaf, you are a valued and loved member of our ward, and we know that in your calling and uh your service is very um, very blessed, has blessed us a lot.
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And I really want to thank you for that.
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And you know, um, we love you and your family, and we're willing to serve you and help you in whatever ways you need.
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I want to thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, and this has been inspiring to me, and I'm sure it'll be for our other ward members.
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I hope you have a great day, and I hope you know how much we love you and your family as a ward.
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So thank you so much.
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Thank you.
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I love this ward and I love you.
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Yes, anyway.
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Well, it's wraps, but yay, we did it.
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Yes, thank you so much.
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That was really uh it was deeply and truly inspiring, and I really want to thank you for putting the time in to do that.
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And I'm sure that you're welcome.
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So, people who listen to this will inspire too.
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Hi everyone, welcome to the Highlands Range Ward Podcast.
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Thanks for taking the time to tune in and listen.
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This is Ruby.
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I'm your host today.
00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:18.719
Today I'll be interviewing Carissa Schaff.
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She's an amazing member of our ward.
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Thanks for joining us on the podcast today.
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All right.
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So with that said, I have a few questions for you.
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My first question is how did you convert to the gospel?
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Yeah, thanks.
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I'm glad to be here and talk about this stuff.
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So I was born and raised in the church.
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So there was kind of just a continuous slow conversion happening throughout my childhood and teenage years.
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Um, but I had a specific time in my life where my life plans changed drastically.
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I was in college and I just found myself having to turn to the Lord in a way that I never had before in my life.
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And through that, I found peace, comfort, and direction through my scripture study and my prayers.
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And um I was kind of specifically studying revelation and just trying to figure out how I could know what the Lord wanted for me in my life.
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And eventually this study and this turn to the Lord um it led me to be prompted to serve a mission.
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And I had never ever wanted to serve a mission before.
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Um, and so it was kind of a surprise to me and a surprise to everyone around me.
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It wasn't really a convenient time in my life.
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I was in the middle of um my nursing program at BYU, but I just knew that I had to go.
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And it was on my mission that I really feel like I uh I guess understood the significance of the restored gospel and of Christ's atonement.
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And I saw so many miracles and I saw how the Lord could work through his servants.
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And I just think that's that's really where my my conversion um blossomed.
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I really love that.
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I think that conversion is not just about um joining the church later in life, but like there's always a moment where we kind of submit everything to our Lord and his work.
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And I feel like sometimes it's later for some people and sometimes it's earlier, but it's really God's plan and what he has in store for you.
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Um my next question is what is your favorite family history story that inspires you?
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So last year, Riley had a project for school where she had to um look up a country that her ancestors immigrated from.
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And so we were looking up stories, and it was interesting because I'd never really looked up these stories from my family before.
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Um, and there was one story that really stuck out to both of us.
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It was the story of my great-great-great-grandmother, and her name is Gertrude, and she left Denmark in 1853 to come to America.
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Uh, she and her husband were converted to the gospel after being taught by missionaries, and then just left everything behind to join other saints in a journey to America to uh to be where the church was at the time.
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Um, and on this journey, uh Gertrude went through a lot of trials.
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They her family made it across the ocean fine and safely, but when they got to St.
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Louis, Missouri, um the disease cholera broke out among their party, and they had to like stop and quarantine.
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They kind of set up a like makeshift hospital out of tents and stuff.
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Um, and her first her two young sons got sick and sent to the hospital there and died.
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And then Gertrude herself got sick and was put in one of these hospitals.
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And um, for whatever reason, it makes no sense to me, but for whatever reason, they thought back then that the treatment for cholera was not giving the patients any food or water, which sounds like a really bad idea.
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But she was laying in a bed with, like, she said there's like six or so other patients in the room with her.
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And she was just kind of laying there expecting to die because she just felt so terrible, was so sick.
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And then she looked over and she saw a pail of water in the middle of the room.
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And it's like the nurses or whoever used it to like wipe the brows or the moisten the lips of the patients.
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But she saw that and she had the thought come to her if I can just get to that, like if I can just get a drink of water, I think I could get well.
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And so in the middle of the night, when no one was around, she like snuck and it was like really hard.
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She had to basically drag her body over to this pail of water, and she got water, took a drink, and then she got herself back in bed.
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And she was the only one of all of those patients in that room that didn't die and that survived.
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So I think that's a super interesting story and probably some kind of revelation, like, you know, prompting to go do that, which is interesting.
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But um, and then sadly she came back.
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She was reunited with her husband and her two-year-old son, who were the two that were left.
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And then her husband also got sick and died from cholera.
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Um, so it was just her and her two-year-old daughter left when they continued their journey.
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And I just think like how hard that would be to continue on and to not feel bitterness that, you know, you're following what you think you're supposed to do, you're trying to follow the Lord, trying to get to the saints in Salt Lake, and then most of your family dies on the way there.
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And I just think what faith it must have taken for her to just keep going.
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And then she continued to be a faithful member throughout her life.
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And I just think that that's a really, a really great lesson.
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I really, yeah, that's that's amazing.
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I love how um more of our church is kind of shifted on family history and our past.
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And I feel like it's not just important to dwell on the future and what we could strive to do, but also to look back on the past and the miracles that were provided for our family and our ancestors.
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And I feel like a lot of those stories that we can kind of notice, like the little uh the little miracles and stuff that might have been hard to see when they were in their trials and stuff.
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And yes, yeah, it's definitely important.
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I feel like filming history has definitely benefited me and my um my path.
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And yeah, it's it's been amazing.
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Um, my next question is what is your favorite scripture story of yours and why?
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So it's hard to choose a favorite, I feel like, but one of one that has always I've always loved and has always stuck with me is the story of the brother of Jared.
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Um, and obviously, like his story is amazing.
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His faith was obviously so great that he was able to see the hand of the Lord and then uh his whole the Lord's whole body.
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And I think that's that's amazing.
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But I I think about the Jaredites themselves, like the people that followed him and just the faith that it had for them to like seal themselves up in these barges that they made, by the way.
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I don't know how I wouldn't trust that if I made it, but like they sealed themselves up in these, they had no, they had some light from these stones, but they had like holes to open for air, and they were just gonna be like they didn't have a way to steer.
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And so to just like drop yourself in the ocean in these barges and just trust that God was gonna take you where you needed to be, that is like another level of faith.
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And um, I think it applies a lot to our lives, right?
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Like there are times when we feel like we don't have control and we're not we're not able to steer, and we kind of just have to, we kind of have to let Christ lead us and do it for us.
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And you know, this journey was not easy or comfortable, and yet they praised God and um were faithful, and I just think it's very it's something we can all learn from.
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I love it.
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Yeah, it's definitely an exercise of faith, and I love seeing that in the scriptures.
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Um my next question is what is a time you've struggled with something in your life and you felt Christ walking with you in that trial?
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So this question might as well just say, tell me about the last year and a half of your life, because that's kind of where I'm at.
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Um, as most people know, I have my sweet Jack that I found out he has trisomy 18 at 15 weeks pregnant.
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And uh finding that out was just devastating.
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It was absolutely crushing.
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Doctors told us that he wasn't likely to survive the pregnancy, and then if he did, he would probably not live more than a few hours, a few days.
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It was just, it was first of all very unknown, and also just uh didn't sound good.
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The odds weren't good.
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Um, and obviously, this was just so hard to hear.
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And I at the time just I had no idea how I was going to cope with this.
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I didn't know how I was going to go through an entire pregnancy, knowing I would eventually lose my baby.
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It just felt it, it really felt too heavy to carry.
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And I didn't know how I would ever be okay or have even have joy again.
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Um, but then the first of many miracles with Jack happened and I felt peace.
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I, you know, it didn't come right away, maybe, but uh I was kind of shocked at how I was able to find peace and comfort.
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And I know that that was through Jesus Christ.
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Um, I was thinking about the title Savior, and I think it takes on a whole new meaning when you actually feel that you have been saved by him.
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Like it's it's been it's a time in my life where on my own, I don't think I could have climbed out of that that dark hole, you know.
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And he he really um carried he carried me and is still carrying me through this this difficult trial.
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And um, I think the most surprising part is that I still can feel joy and I still can feel hope.
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And um obviously a lot of that comes from knowing that families are eternal and that Jack will someday be whole and perfect.
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Uh it doesn't make it easier, but it it makes it uh possible and and hopeful.
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Um, so yeah, I'm so grateful for for my savior and for giving me that that power through his atonement.
00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:40.799
Yes, thank you for sharing that.
00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:51.039
I know it's not easy to express the trials we're going through, but I really do admire you for putting strength and trust and faith in the Lord.
00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:59.279
Um my next question is what is an axe aspect of our ward that you feel has been a blessing in your life?
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I love our ward.
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They are just so loving and supporting.
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I obviously I I mean, I personally, my family has been served in countless ways by members in our ward.
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Um, I think this this genuine love that we have for each other allows our ward members to be more open and honest with each other, and it leads to better gospel discussions, it leads to better relationships, and it allows us to serve and love each other even better.
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Um, I think you know, we all have our differences, but we're all unified in our discipleship of Christ.
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And I just think that's a really special thing to have.
00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.240
Yes, I also I feel that too.
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I feel like we as a ward and as a whole do a very good job of keeping a family and community.
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And I feel like we're a good ward at um being united and love and sharing and inviting.
00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:03.919
Um, next question is what is a recent time that you felt the spirit?
00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:06.799
How do you recognize that the spirit is with you?
00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:18.080
So in primary, I'm in primary, and the kids are learning, singing a song that's called Wonderfully Made.
00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:32.320
And it's a really sweet song with an important message, and part of the chorus says, I am I am wonderfully made, crafted with care, and filled with his love, wonderfully made, formed in his image, I'm always enough.
00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:39.200
And every time we sing that song, I can't help but think about my sweet Jack.
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And I just have had the spirit whisper to me, really, every time I hear that song, that he is wonderfully made.
00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:59.360
And even though his body is not perfect, and a lot of people in the you know medical world would say he's maybe even a mistake, right?
00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:02.080
Like he has an extra chromosome he's not supposed to have.
00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:14.639
But I have been told through the spirit that um he's he's perfect, he's made the way that he's meant to be made.
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:32.399
And I think that also teaches that none of us have perfect bodies, none of us are perfect in any way in this life, and um it doesn't change the fact that we are wonderfully and carefully created by a loving God.
00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:39.360
Our imperfections and limitations don't define us, but they refine us.
00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:49.279
And um yeah, and I guess to the second question, I think for me, the way that I know that the spirit is speaking to me can be different ways sometimes.
00:14:49.519 --> 00:15:10.720
But one is just a feeling of peace, like that's a big one, but also just like I feel like I just have thoughts that come to my mind, and this is one of those examples, just like when that song, when I hear that song, I have that thought repeatedly, and I just I just know that that comes from from the spirit.
00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.600
I love that, I love that so much.
00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:25.039
What was that thing you said about um they don't um define the yeah, they don't define us, they refine us.
00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.480
Uh that's that's golden.
00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.600
I love that.
00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:39.679
Um, my next question is if you could go 100 years in the future and talk to your posterity, what advice would you give them?
00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:51.679
Um I'd probably want to tell them a lot of things, but the probably the most important thing I could think to tell them is that true joy comes through Jesus Christ.
00:15:51.840 --> 00:16:08.240
Um, and it's so easy to go through life and forget that, to chase things that don't really bring you real happiness, um, or to wait for happiness to come from someone else or from something happening to you.
00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:17.120
My mom used to always say, I can't remember the exact quote, but she would always basically tell me like, don't rely on anyone else to make you happy.
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.519
It's it's up to you to find your own happiness.
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:32.080
And I think that's like such good advice because um if we wait for other people to bring us happiness or anything in life, then we're gonna be, we're gonna be disappointed.
00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:40.399
And the really, really the only true joy that comes is through Jesus Christ and his gospel.
00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:43.039
I love that so much.
00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:48.320
Um nearing an end, I just want to say thank you so much.
00:16:48.559 --> 00:17:01.440
And um, Sister Shaf, you are a valued and loved member of our ward, and we know that in your calling and uh your service is very um, very blessed, has blessed us a lot.
00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.360
And I really want to thank you for that.
00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:10.000
And you know, um, we love you and your family, and we're willing to serve you and help you in whatever ways you need.
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:17.920
I want to thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview, and this has been inspiring to me, and I'm sure it'll be for our other ward members.
00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:22.559
I hope you have a great day, and I hope you know how much we love you and your family as a ward.
00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:24.079
So thank you so much.
00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.519
Thank you.
00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.680
I love this ward and I love you.
00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.160
Yes, anyway.
00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:34.640
Well, it's wraps, but yay, we did it.
00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.480
Yes, thank you so much.
00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:43.839
That was really uh it was deeply and truly inspiring, and I really want to thank you for putting the time in to do that.
00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.599
And I'm sure that you're welcome.
00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:49.680
So, people who listen to this will inspire too.
