A blend of religious traditions

OREM, Utah — A nine-branched Hanukkah menorah is in the front window. The center candle, the shamash, and the candle farthest to the right are lighted. A mezuzah (packet containing a portion of the scriptures) is nailed to the door post of the front entrance of the house. At the entry is a Christmas tree that includes an ornament of the Star of David that a child made out of Popsicle sticks.

In the kitchen, Elissa Molling combines grated potatoes with eggs, spices and other ingredients. Behind Elissa, four decorative plates hang on the wall: a set that features scenes of the Levant and atop, a rendition of the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Adjacent to the wall plates is a framed print, \"The Living Christ — The Testimony of the Apostles.\"

At the counter, Elissa scoops small portions of the thick mixture, flattening them with the palms of her hands. Sizzle. The patties fry in hot oil.

\"We prepare snacks like jelly doughnuts or anything that is cooked in oil to remind us about the oil that lasted eight nights,\" Elissa says.

The crispy hot cakes, called potato latkes, are ready to be served with applesauce for a three-generation family of Mormon Jews to celebrate the night's festivity — Hanukkah.

\"Many Mormon Jews in Salt Lake and Utah counties celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah during the winter holidays,\" says Denise Metcalf, an assistant to the director of The Ensign Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages the identity restoration of the tribes of Joseph and Judah.

\"It's about what Tevye said in 'Fiddler on the Roof' — tradition,\" says Troy Molling, one of Elissa's sons.

\"It's really important for us to keep our heritage alive,\" says Cynthia Molling, Troy's wife, whose father is Jewish and whose mother descends from Mormon pioneers.

After sunset, neighbors and friends gather with the Molling family in the basement, where Hanukkah menorahs are set on a coffee table. Michell, 18, one of 22 grandchildren, sits between her mother, Melody Molling-Thieme, and her stepfather, Scott, while the six younger grandchildren sit on blankets at the foot of the table.

\"My friend invited me; I hope you don't mind,\" Emily Eliason says to Elissa. \"It sounds so neat.\"

Elissa welcomes Eliason with a smile.

\"It's about being a bridge between Mormon and Jews where Mormons can know more about Judaism and Jewish people can know more about what Mormons believe,\" Elissa says. \"It goes hand in hand.\"

Elissa's oldest son, Mitch Molling, wearing a yarmulke and a Jerusalem skyline tie, gives the opening prayer and closes it \"in the name of Jesus Christ, our Messiah.\"