Aunt Emmaline Chapman Burgon dies at age 90!

Dear Family,

My aunt, your great-aunt, Emmaline Amanda Burgon, wife of Stanley Burgon died this week. Kathy, her daughter, was my closest cousin as I was growing up so I spent a lot of time at their home in Union. She was a wonderful woman, sometimes a real character.

Thought you'd like to know.

Love, Mom

Emmaline Chapman Burgon 1917 ~ 2008 Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Emmaline Chapman Burgon, passed away February 20, 2008, surrounded by her loving family.She was born July 10, 1917 in Bluewater, New Mexico to Hyrum and Eda Chapman. She married Stanley Willard Burgon 67 years ago on June 16, 1941. She was a faithful daughter of God and served in the LDS Church in many ward and stake callings, including ward and stake Relief Society president, stake Young Women's president, ward Primary president and as a teacher in Relief Society and MIA for many years. She began playing the piano and organ as a young woman and her musical abilities allowed her to serve as ward and stake organist and also gave her many opportunities to accompany throughout her life. She was always a support and strength to her husband Stanley and served a mission with him in Nauvoo, Illinois. Her greatest quality was her unending compassion. She was a great example of Christ-like love and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her husband, five children; Garth (Kathy), Kathleen (Neil) Moyes, John (Elaina), Sherilyn (Randy) Westbrook, and Scott (Teresa) and also by her 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and her three brothers and three sisters. Much appreciation and many, many thanks to the IHC Hospice team for their wonderful service to our family. A viewing will be held Sunday, Feb. 24th from 6-8 p.m. at the Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 E. 10600 S., Sandy. Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 25th, 12 Noon at the Union Park 2nd Ward, 7500 So. 700 E., Midvale, with a viewing at 10 a.m. also at the church. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens. Condolences may be offered at www.larkincares.com.
Published in the Deseret News from 2/23/2008 - 2/24/2008.

Family Home Evening, February 18, 2008

Happy Family Home Evening and Presidents Day!

When your dad and I were growing up February was a time to celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington on separate days.

Today we celebrate President's Day. Washington and Lincoln were exceptional men for exceptional times. We grew to love and appreciate these men as we got to know more about them when we were in school back in the 1950's. We believe God raises up wise men to accomplish His goals; and, although these men were not perfect, they accomplished wonders for all Americans.

Freedom is a great and precious thing. It is a blessing from God. The scriptures tell us that to keep our freedoms we must serve Jesus Christ and keep his commandments (Ether 2:12). We must also obey the Constitution and other laws of this country and make sure we have good leaders (Doctrine & Covenants 98:4-10).

We need leaders who believe in God, especially today. Our freedoms are NOT derived from governments, nor from a Constitution, nor from political leaders. They come from no man. Our freedom comes from God, our Father.

George Washington

Soon after the revolutionary war, thirteen states sent representatives to Philadelphia. George Washington was president of the convention and during one of the early meetings he made an important statement about the convention's purpose. "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God."

Writing the Constitution was a difficult process. There were many different opinions. However, after nearly seventeen weeks of proposals and debates, this diverse group of men produced a document considered by many to be a miracle. They created a plan for a government that is so well balanced that no social or geographic group can dominate any other. They produced a government strong enough to protect the individual rights of all its citizens and yet not invade their privacy nor infringe on their freedom.

Part of the Constitution's sacred importance for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (nick-named "Mormons") is based on the principle of agency. Arguments over this principle began in the council of heaven before the earth was created.

"I testify," said President Ezra Taft Benson, "that the God of heaven selected and sent some of his choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this [the American] government as prologue to the restoration of the gospel and the second coming of our Savior."

George Washington was one of those choice spirits. Below are some quotes from Washington that give us an indication of his character:

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

Over grown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty, and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to republican liberty.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an Honest Man.


Abraham Lincoln

The son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Lincoln had to struggle for a living and for learning. Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years. He married Mary Todd, and they had four boys, only one of whom lived to maturity.

As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

Lincoln never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. This he stated most movingly in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg: "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Lincoln's words:

Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere.--September 11, 1858 Speech at Edwardsville, Illinois

Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties. And not to Democrats alone do I make this appeal, but to all who love these great and true principles.--August 27, 1856 Speech at Kalamazoo, Michigan

May our children and our children's children to a thousand generations, continue to enjoy the benefits conferred upon us by a united country, and have cause yet to rejoice under those glorious institutions bequeathed us by Washington and his compeers.--October 4, 1862 Speech at Frederick, Maryland

And having thus chosen our course, without guile, and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear, and with manly hearts.--July 4, 1861 Message to Congress

There are many people to thank for our freedoms: these are two of them.

Think about Washington and Lincoln. Honor them! Have a great week!

Love, Mom and Dad, Robert & Shauna Valentine xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

What a winter!

Our back deck has about 20 inches of snow on the furniture!
For pictures of Gina and Jonathan's snowbound home in "Suncrest," check out http://www.thesewingfriend.blogspot.com/
Last night we got hit with another blizzard! Our grand daughter Sloane was trapped at her elementary school. Jonathan finally picked her up with his four wheel drive Honda. We took this picture of the entrance to their home at 6,200 feet in Suncrest, about a fifteen minute (under normal conditions) drive from our home in Highland! By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!

Family Home Evening, February 11, 2008

Congratulations to James and Maroon5 for Grammy #3, Wow!!! Way to go!! It was so fun to share the excitement, thanks for the Wake Up call.

It seems that we are always waiting for something; it's always something. When we were kids it was Christmas, which never came, oh, it did. Then we started the cycle again.

Many good things that we desire just take time and we need to develop patience with not only ourselves but also patience with others. Patience is another form of self-control. It is the ability to postpone gratification and to display composure under stress.

If God deprives his children of any present blessing it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by and by.

Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out It's all about timing.Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.

George Q. Cannon

A Psalm for Life

Let us, then, be up and doing
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"The Lord, Jesus Christ, is our perfect example of patience. Though absolutely unyielding in adherence to the truth, He exemplified patience repeatedly during His mortal ministry. He was patient with His disciples, including the Twelve, despite their lack of faith and their slowness to recognize and understand His divine mission. He was patient with the multitudes as they pressed about Him, with the woman taken in sin, with those who sought His healing power, and with little children. Finally, He remained patient through the suffering of His mock trial and His crucifixion." -- Joseph B. Wirthlin

How are you on the Patience Scale?

1. I wait patiently for the blessings and promises of the Lord to be fulfilled (2 Nephi 10:17)
2. I am able to wait for things without getting upset or frustrated. (Romans 8:25)
3. I am patient and long-suffering with the challenges of life. (Alma 17:11)
4. I am patient with the faults and weaknesses of others. (Romans 15:1)
5. I am patient with myself and rely on the Lord as I work to overcome my weaknesses (Ether 12:27)
6. I face adversity and afflictions calmly and hopefully. (Alma 34:40-41)

And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life. D&C 101:38

Love is patient, love is kind. And we love you!

Happy Valentine's Day to all our Valentines and their Valentines!

Mom and Dad, Robert & Shauna Valentine xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Maroon5 wins Grammy Number Three!

If it were up to Robert Valentine, music critic extraordinaire, they would have walked away with album of the year for "It Won't be Be Soon Before Long," which was the number one downloaded album on I-Tunes for crying out loud! Maybe the boys should show a little more cleavage! Grief! Way to go James Valentine. Your fans have no idea how hard you guys work 24/7/365! That paper route back in Nebraska taught you how to work, right? We are so proud of you, Adam, Jesse, Mickey and Matt! You are the best darn band in the world!

Another Sunday night in Highland!

Marilyn was healing the sick, but Chris brought their three (soon-to-be four) kids for one of Shauna's delicious meals, including ice cream and chocolate cake. Topher is in LA with UVU theater students up for awards, but Lisa brought her five kids and we oogled baby Margaret, who at five weeks is already smiling at Grampa and Grandma. Great-grandmother Amy and Aunt Cristy drove down from SLC, too. We sat around and watched the (boring) Grammy Awards, but Maroon5 wasn't there to perform (pity). But they did win another Grammy Sunday night for "Duo or Pop Group Vocal," whatever that means. Off to NYC Monday for a Tuesday appearance on Regis and what's-her-name.

Owen Valentine Clark's Baptism

Baby Margaret Valentine Clark doesn't need baptism until she is eight years old.
Grandma Valentine spoke on the "Gift of the Holy Ghost."
Grandma Clark spoke on the "Baptism Ordinance."
A father uses his priesthood to baptize his own children.

Mormon kids are baptized when they reach eight years of age, the age of "accountability." Owen's father Christopher Layton Clark baptized him, as LDS men are ordained to the priesthood to carry out priesthood functions that are often done only by priests or pastors in other faiths.

Family Home Evening, Monday, February 4, 2008

Dear Family,

Happy Monday. It has been an eventful week.

Congratulations to Owen on his baptism last Saturday. It was a happy and fun day at the Clark's home and later at the "Training Table" for hamburgers.

Happy new home in Nashville to Amanda. We love the photos you sent (and we published on the blog). Send us the newspaper article when it comes out.

We've enjoyed watching James on many TV shows last week! Talk about exposure! The Pepsi Splash show at the Super Bowl was great. Best wishes with the Grammy Awards next week. We hope you win.

We're so glad everyone is feeling better--the winter guck has really been going around but everyone is looking and sounding better, especially Robert, who finally got his voice back.

We hope that Gina and Jonathan and the girls will be able to find some place to put the snow the rest of the winter up in Suncrest. Fortunately, we had our Snapper snow blower rebuilt in time for last week's blizzard. Robert spent Saturday and Sunday cleaning up the neighborhood!

Farewell to our beloved prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, whose funeral was held last Saturday.

Thomas S. Monson is the new President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with Henry B. Eyring as First Counselor and Dieter F. Uchtdorf as Second Counselor. They are all wonderful and amazing men and our prayers are with them.

Here is the family home evening message for Monday, February 4, 2008.

Diligence
I do not believe that any man lives up to his ideals, but if we are striving , if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty. If we are seeking to remedy our own defects, if we are so living that we can ask God for light, for knowledge, for intelligence, and above all for his Spirit, that we may overcome weaknesses, then I can tell you, we are in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. Then we need have no fear. --- Heber J. Grant

(Just a bit of family history stuck in here)

Heber J. Grant was the 7th president of the Church and president of the Great Britain Mission when Shauna's grandfather, your great-grandfather, Heber James Burgon was called as a missionary there in 1902. (He spent most of this mission in Ireland). They remained friends after Grandfather's mission and I learned today that President Grant suggested that Heber Burgon go into banking, which he did, and later, so did Shauna's father, Marvin, your grandfather. Great grandpa Heber Burgon was President of the East Jordan Stake for eighteen years. The stake covered Midvale to the point of the mountain in Draper, and from the Wasatch mountains on the east, and the Oquirrah mountains on the west side of the valley, a huge area.
Shauna's grandparents hosted many LDS general authorities in their Midvale home on a regular basis. Great grandfather Heber also participated in many General Conferences. Shauna found this account from 1928: The following telegram has been received from S. N. Kunz of Montpelier, Idaho: "We are hearing the opening services by radio more distinctly than we usually do in most sections of the Tabernacle. "The congregation sang, "Redeemer of Israel."The closing prayer was offered by Elder Heber J. Burgon, president of the East Jordan stake of Zion. Activity in the LDS church has been a blessing to the Burgon and Valentine families for more than a century.

How diligent are we today?

1. I work effectively, even when I'm not under pressure or close supervision.

2. I focus my efforts on the most important things (Matthew 23:23)

3. I have a personal prayer at least twice a day (Alma 34: 18-27)

4. I focus my thoughts on my calling so I can do it properly.

5. I set goals and plan regularly (D&C 88:119)

6. I work hard until the job is completed successfully. (D&C 10:14)

7. I find joy and satisfaction in my work. (Alma 36:24-25)

Have a terrific week! We love you!

Mom and Dad, Robert & Shauna Valentine
xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo