The entire film was shot in four weeks. All exterior shots were filmed in Haarlem, a suburb of Amsterdam, while the interior shots were filmed in Alpine, Utah.
Mission President Sandburg "prescribes" the following scriptures: For Elder Johnson, Matthew 5:38-39, which reads "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." For Elder Van Pelt, 2 Nephi 9:42, which reads "And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches--yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them."
Although Elder Van Pelt is correct in saying that "Book of Mormons" is incorrect grammar, "Books of Mormon" is also incorrect. The correct plural term is "copies of the Book of Mormon."
Scott S. Anderson (the director) used the Dutch members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which is the religion the movie is centered around) as the extras in the film. These members welcomed the cast and crew into their homes with the same hospitality they extend to missionaries.
The fish Elder Calhoun eats is a pickled herring, a delicacy in Holland that dates back to the Middle Ages and is traditionally eaten raw and vertically as shown in the film. Kirby Heyborne (Elder Calhoun's actor) really bit the herring based on the encouragement of the other actors, and his gagging reaction is genuine.