‘Idol’ Runner-Up David Archuleta To Start Mormon Mission

First Published: March 28, 2012 8:14 PM EDT Credit: Getty Images

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Caption David Archuleta arrives at the “American Idol” Grand Finale for Season 10 at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, May 25, 2011“American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta has posted a farewell YouTube video to fans as he prepares for a two-year Mormon mission in South America.

The 21-year-old singer says in a video blog posted Wednesday that his contact with fans will be limited while he’s in the undisclosed country.

KSL reports he entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on Wednesday as a precursor to the assignment.

Archuleta competed on the seventh season of “American Idol” and has since released three albums. He announced at a December concert that he’d be going on a mission, like many young men in the church.

He says in his video that he’s “trying to focus on something else” besides his career, and looks forward to spending more “one-on-one time with my Heavenly Father.”

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