"The Lord knew what he was doing when he didn’t put me in charge of the church,” my mother once said. “I’d put candles everywhere.”
Yes, she would.
Like many other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my family loved candles. We loved them everywhere — except in church, for safety reasons.
We put them in our jack-o'-lanterns.
We used them as table centerpieces.
We even shot off Roman candles on Independence Day.
And as for birthday candles, my mother had a thing for trick candles — the ones that go out when you blow on them, then magically spring back to life.
She put them on every birthday cake for 20 years.
If you have to blow out all the candles on the cake to get your wish, nobody in my family was a granted a birthday wish for two decades.
Church, of course, was another matter.
Safety first and all. In fact, there was a day people put lighted candles on the boughs of Christmas trees. Today, that seems as naive as tossing matches at a can of gasoline. But then we always live and learn, if we manage to stay alive long enough to learn.
As for my mother and her candles, I can understand her fondness for them. With their light and warmth, they are a palpable symbol of the spirit. The little flame feels almost alive the way it wobbles and flickers, sending its smoke heavenward, “ascending like a prayer,” as the old church solo has it.
We can’t help it.
We’re drawn like wolves to the flame.
Last summer, former Deseret News sports editor John Robinson and I drove to California to see the Dodgers play. To kill some time, we visited the new Catholic cathedral in Los Angeles. While John scouted about, I became drawn to a tall bank of votive candles along one of the wall. For a donation to church charities, the sign said, I could light a little candle. I donated and lit one for John. I chose one high above the others, to make him feel like he was a cut above. Then I called him over.
“I lit a candle for you,” I said, pointing to the high, tiny flame.
He looked the scene over, then said, “All these lower folks are in field level seats. Why’d you put me in the upper deck?”
Candles are lovely, but I’m glad we don’t use them in our church.
Heaven knows we have a hard time trying to stay on top of everything as it is.
Email: jerjohn@deseretnews.com