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| David Archuleta |
The Honduran-born artist, 20, made the announcement Monday during a Christmas concert in Salt Lake City (Utah), as recorded by today's local newspaper Desert News.
"I decided to get involved in a full-time mission," said the youth, who will carry out its activities for the Church of the Latter-day Saints (Mormons traditional). "It's not because someone has told me that it should, and not because they want to continue making music, but because I feel that is what I do with my life," he added.
Archuleta, one of the youngest contestants on "American Idol", which he joined at age 16, did not explain where to carry out the mission, but that would undertake in early 2012.
The usual program in such missions is to use the time in the study of Scripture and preaching Mormon doctrine between local populations.
"The crowd went crazy," said the newspaper Jana Johns, one of the attendees, who explained that he saw Archuleta excited. "He could not talk for a minute. Then thanked the public for their support and received a standing ovation. Everyone was standing," he said.
"American Idol" is a cultural phenomenon, attracting an audience of millions in America and popular artists who have emerged as Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.
In the seventh edition of the "show", Archuleta came in second, behind American David Cook.
In 2008, Young released an album the same name that reached number two on the list of U.S. sales. A year later he returned to the scene with a Christmas album in October 2010 and released its third album, "The Other Side of Down".
