Mormons in Utah have constructed a huge replica of a biblical era 'little Jerusalem' that will last for '30 years'.

The roughly one square mile film set near Goshen is complete with a maze of city streets, temples and even a replica Calgary hill, all crafted to look like the ancient city.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will begin filming 55 educational vignettes about Jesus’ life next week and are expected to finish around October.

Biblical: The site has been modelled on ancient Jerusalem with astoundingly accurate details

Painstaking: Sculptor Kody Keller creates olive trees for the Garden of Gethsemane

Casting for actors and extras in the films has been equally pain staking, with Mediterranean looking members of the church cast in key roles.

The church has even taken the trouble to import Egyptian sheep and grey donkeys giving the animals an authentic biblical look.

Speaking to the Salt Lake Tribune, producer Scott Smiley said: 'The goal of the church is to help people have a better understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

'To do that, the most realistic appearance helps someone be able to transport [himself] to that time period, and understand what his life was like, what the lives of those around him were like and have a better understanding of his mission.

'A lot of study went into the architectural and archaeological findings.'

Solid: Foam blocks await transformation into stone in what will soon become a representation of Bethlehem

Studio: The set will be used to film a series of short New Testament vignettes that will be used by various church programs

Hundreds of workers have been employed on the site that includes a large scale replica of  Solomon’s Temple complex, filled with 30-foot-high columns.

The church are hopeful the new set will last for up to 30 years, and remain as a teaching and conference centre.

The set is situated so that the 'almost Galilean hills' can be seen from any angle avoiding the rockier mountains to the east.

Symbolic: The sizeable set, consisting of series of façades and backdrops can be dressed to represent many different locations

Speaking to Desert news, John Uibel, director of creative story development in the LDS Church's Media Services Department, said: 'It's an incredible spot, with so many possibilities located so close to each other.

'We looked all over Utah, from St. George to Logan, for a place that had hills and mountains and gullies and grass and desert.

'Miraculously, we found this place, literally just sitting here, not being used for anything - just waiting for us.'