Seven-year-old Joseph Hofheins reacts to eating matzah with horseradish during the bitter herbs part of the Passover ceremony, which also included music and dancing. (Stuart Johnson, Deseret News)

Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS) have long felt a kinship with Jewish brothers and sisters. It’s becoming popular in recent years for Latter-day Saints (LDS) to take their feelings of kinship to a more active level. Some are participating in a Seder in addition to the traditional Easter services and remembrance observed this time of year.

I remember a few years ago a women’s activity at our local unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to make Seder plates. We spent the evening decorating the plates and learning the traditions of the Seder. I really enjoyed the activity. It gave me a great appreciation for the common heritage Christians and Jews share.

Latter-day Saints in areas of Utah are developing large activities for this special time of year. The following news-story is from Deseret…

Passover is just about over. Despite news reports of matzah shortages across the country, our family managed to acquire enough boxes to make it through the holiday, with even a few pieces to spare.

If have noticed that I and a lot of my family and friends who observe the basic rules of Passover are getting quite grumpy and fatigued. Our daily routine of toast or a bagel and coffee for breakfast has been replaced by the mostly colorless, odorless, and tasteless matzah cracker, which must be slathered with butter/margarine, and jam to give it some pizazz.

Making a sandwich with matzah is a lesson in futility. Most of the contents of such a concoction end up in your lap with the first bite. There are two exceptions to these culinary disappointments. The first is matzah brei, a dish of scrambled eggs and matzah. The second is matzah balls, usually served in a chicken…