Dear Elder Wheeler,
I must admit that this past week since I got your letter has been tough (which might explain the delayed response). Despite all of it though, I have a renewed sense of what I need to do. I feel sort of like you do in that you are letting The Lord take over. I've had a hard time dealing with the fact that your letters are getting shorter and shorter.. I desperately do not want what happened to Mike and Kristi to happen to us. Anyway though, I didn't want to write you back in a huff so I've needed some time to get over it. After a lot of pondering and talking to people, I too am submitting my will to The Lord's. I am so proud of you for serving The Lord with all that you have to give and I now realize that in order to do this, you do need to sacrifice me in a way I hadn't thought of before. Don't worry, I don't feel like we're doomed or anything, I just realize now that I need to take a step back and not rely on you so much. I need to love you but more importantly, I need to support you. I know that as long as you lose yourself in the work and give it your all and as long as I'm willing to accept that and continue on with what I'm supposed to do, we will be blessed. Please don't let this deter you from writing me or feeling close to me or anything, I just want to let you know I'm on the same page you are. I don't feel like you're letting go of me, I understand that now more than ever you need to let The Lord take over and I am working on doing the same. In feeling the way I have this past week, I spoke with one person who said he got so engrossed in the work that getting letters about love and marriage from his girlfriend only distracted him and became bothersome so he "dear jane'd" her 8 months in and I in no way want to be that kind of girlfriend. I also spoke to someone who dated and had fun building her testimony while she waited and 2 months after he got home, they were sealed and are now going to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.
This past Tuesday at institute was awesome. Brother Meachum taught about sections 76-77 in D&C and I'd like to share some of the things I found really interesting with you. I know how you like all this stuff.

Harold B. Lee said in speaking about this world, "He sent the least, the most inferior souls to this earth, those so inferior that they would kill their God. Though, He also balanced this earth, with the least, are the most great and noble."

It was Brigham Young's opinion that "Anyone who goes to Outer Darkness dissolves.. and turns back into pure intelligence.. decomposed both of body and soul to return to their native element to be worked over again to be able to enjoy some sort of kingdom." Brother Meachum drew a diagram of the Plan of Salvation and from Outer Darkness, he drew an arrow back to the pre-existence. Not only does this show how truly loving and merciful Heavenly Father is.. but it makes so much sense to me. One time I was talking to Bishop Broadbent about the Plan of Salvation and in the conversation, he told me there would be 3 Judgments. This didn't make sense to me at the time, but now that Brother Meachum shared this quote with us, it makes sense that perhaps it will take 3 times (or rounds) for all of Heavenly Father's children to be worthy of a kingdom.. the least of which, the Telestial Kingdom, even so great that we can't comprehend it (D&C 76:89).

J. Reuben Clark in speaking about The Lord's mercy, "It is my opinion, that in the final judgment, The Lord will give the least punishment he can give for our transgressions and the greatest reward for our righteousness."

As for me, I'm doing well. The biggest thing going on in my life is just that I need to submit myself. Which is a really hard thing to do and deal with, but I'm working on it. I'm supporting you and thinking of you. I read my scriptures every night and am really getting into them in a way that I haven't before. I'm really comprehending a lot more and coming away with a lot more spiritual messages every night than I have in the past. One scripture that really got me thinking the other night was Mosiah 7:29.

29 For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them.

.. it really makes sense why things go wrong when you're doing things you're not supposed to but even further than that, when we are not righteous, the decisions we make and the things we do in life are "stumbling blocks." It made me think about where I'm at in my life right now and how much I really need the help and guidance of The Lord so as to not build my life on "stumbling blocks" that will lead me in the wrong direction... ie school, church, and social life. I really need to be striving to do my best so that the choices I make concerning those things are the right ones guided by the spirit.
I got my hair cut.. well, not really but I got bangs. Everyone but my dad says they are cute, my dad thinks they are ugly. You didn't mention anything about getting the tie and pictures I sent.
Thank you for the answer on the "woman thing". That is exactly what I wanted. Someone at the branch brought it up in Sunday School and he had an odd interpretation of it.. he said when Christ called his mother "woman", he was "putting her in her place." A lot of the girls in the branch are giving him a hard time about it so I thought I might be able to help clear it up with your insight. Thank you.
Well, Daniel.. I love you and I'm praying for you. I'm proud of you and I'm not forgetting about you. I continually look forward to your letters.

Love,
Naomi


PS-
I forgot one of the quotes I wanted to include. Perhaps the coolest one, especially coming from me. Brother Meachum said it's proof that there is in fact, a doggy heaven. We were talking about section 77 where Joseph is asking questions about the Book of Revelations. In regards to Q2 and the 4 beasts, Joseph said, "I suppose there are 10,000 times 10,000 animals that have been exalted from other worlds we don't know of.. some of them so noble they are close to angels."
... looks like I will see Dodger again!

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