Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the series, and his production team once stood at a dead end when their original small set in Texas could no longer support their grand vision. Right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic that brought everything to a halt, they unexpectedly received the opportunity to film on the stunning Jerusalem replica set in Goshen, Utah — a facility owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What few people realize is that the small, seemingly coincidental details throughout the long approval process carried the unmistakable mark of divine orchestration — from a chance meeting with Sheri Dew to the moment a senior church leader watched the show and reversed the decision within just a few days. The story behind it all is enough to leave anyone astonished.
The journey to secure the Goshen set for “The Chosen” stands as one of the most remarkable chapters in the series’ already extraordinary production story. Dallas Jenkins, an evangelical filmmaker, had reached a critical point with his biblical drama. The small Texas set that served the first season was no longer sufficient for the scope he envisioned. Just as he began exploring new options, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, complicating every aspect of production and location scouting.
Sheri Dew, executive vice president and chief content officer of Deseret Management Corporation, played a pivotal role in the process. Months before meeting Jenkins in early 2020, she had been tasked by the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with reviewing requests for commercial use of the Goshen facility. Their first meeting left a positive impression. Dew recalled thinking she liked both the man and the project he was building, even though she had not yet watched the show.
When the pandemic restrictions made filming at Goshen impossible, it seemed the opportunity had vanished. Jenkins received an official rejection in July. Yet something kept him hopeful. He had visited the set earlier at a friend’s invitation and felt a profound spiritual impression there. “I really felt God’s presence,” Jenkins said. “I felt… a clear impression of, ‘People’s lives are gonna be changed by what you do on this set.’”
His wife encouraged him to trust that this was part of a larger plan. On the other side, Dew continued advocating quietly. The turning point came when a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles watched a DVD of “The Chosen” during summer break. Impressed, he reached out, leading to a Zoom meeting and a memo to the First Presidency. Just three days after the initial rejection, Jenkins received formal approval.
“It took the help of several leaders,” Dew reflected, “but it felt like a miracle.” Jenkins has since described the entire experience as evidence that the show was bigger than any one person. “When God has something to do, God has something to say, we get fortunate to be asked to be part of it,” he said.
Since Season 2, “The Chosen” has filmed extensively at the Goshen Jerusalem replica, a setting that provides an authentic first-century Israel backdrop unmatched elsewhere in the United States. As of June 2026, Jenkins and the team have just wrapped three weeks of filming for the seventh and final season. The results speak for themselves. Across five released seasons, the series has reached more than 300 million people in over 175 countries, generating nearly a billion episode views. It has been translated into a record 125 languages, making the story of Jesus accessible to a global audience on an unprecedented scale.
Jenkins, who is not a member of the LDS Church, has expressed deep gratitude for the partnership. “We couldn’t have done the show without use of the set,” he stated. “There’s been this mutual respect and I think a shared goal in making Jesus known around the world.” He emphasized that despite theological differences, the collaboration has been life-giving and instrumental to the show’s success.
The association with the church’s facilities has occasionally drawn criticism, yet Jenkins remains unwavering. When asked if he regretted the connection, he replied firmly, “No.” He expressed excitement about working with people of all faith backgrounds — or none at all — to tell this particular story. Many Latter-day Saint crew members and extras have contributed to the production, enriching the show with diverse perspectives while maintaining its central focus.
As “The Chosen” approaches its conclusion, Jenkins continues to reflect on the many moments of what he perceives as divine intervention. From securing the Goshen set to countless other breakthroughs, these experiences have deepened his own understanding of faith. He now places greater value on the intimacy of a personal relationship with Christ. “I think we sometimes forget that God has a personal relationship with you,” Jenkins shared. “He knows your heart. He knows your history.”
His simple advice, offered to Latter-day Saints and viewers of all backgrounds alike, is heartfelt and direct: know Jesus more. Delve deeper into scripture. Love Him more fully. In a world often divided by differences, “The Chosen” has become a powerful example of how a shared purpose can bridge divides and touch millions of lives through storytelling that feels both authentic and inspired.
