American Idol runner-up David Archuleta announced while performing in Salt Lake City last night that he is leaving music to become a full-time Mormon missionary.
The 20-year-old will undertake his new calling for two years. He told his hometown crowd, “It’s not because someone told me that I was supposed to do it, not because I no longer want to do music anymore, but I need to do this next in my life.”
At that emotional point in his remarks the audience applauded. Fighting back tears he continued, “It’s the same feeling that I’ve always tried to follow in my life. It’s the feeling that’s allowed me to have the opportunities and the blessings too. I’m aware that I need to answer when He calls, and that’s the reason that I know I need to do this in my life.”
David and his family moved to Sandy, Utah when he was six. He is a former Boy Scout and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Archuleta’s third studio album, The Other Side of Down, was released in 2010 on Jive Records. He placed second during season seven in 2008, losing out to David Cook.
Check out his video announcement below:
Photo: WENN