There will not be any David Archuleta music for the next two years. The former American Idol contestant announced last night at a show in his hometown of Salt Lake City that he is taking two years off from his career to go on a mission for his Mormon church.
"I would like to make a special announcement: that I've chosen to serve a full-time mission. It's not because somebody told me that I was supposed to do it, not because that I no longer want to do music anymore, but it's because it's the feeling that I felt that I need to do next in my life. It's just the same feeling that I've always followed, tried to follow in my life. It's the feeling that has allowed me to have the opportunities that I've had, the challenges that I've overcome and the blessings, too. And I've learned to trust that feeling, and I've learned that I need to answer when it calls. And that is the reason why I know I need to do this in my life."
You know what? Good for him. If this is something he feels he needs to do then I am glad he is putting personal ahead of career and there will be his whole life for music.
As my mom always said, so smart to send your young boys off for two years in their late teens/early 20s, just at the age when they need the discipline most. Good for him for living his beliefs.
ReplyDeleteGood for him, if he feels he needs to do something else. But if I'm not mistaken, it is expected from all to go on a mission for two years for the Latter-day Saints church. No matter your age, and when you've joined.
ReplyDeleteAlso it would be good for him to get away from what we've heard is an abusive father. this will surely help him find his way, become his own man.
ReplyDeletedid you all know that you have to pay your way to go on a mission? i thought very differently about it when i learned this. all your needs, food, housing, etc., are paid for by you or your family, not the church.
ReplyDeleteWe had neighbors who were trying to save the money to send their son on his mission. I never knew that a family had to pay and I attended the Church of Latter Day Saints for many years.
ReplyDeleteObviously, that was a long, long time ago.
It's not expected of you to go. It's your own choice to go. Men go when they're 19 and women go at 21. You can always choose to go later in life, I've known men that have gone in their late 20's. And you do pay for it if you can, but if you cannot afford it, the church will find a way for the mission to be paid for. It's a tough decision for most people, and I'm proud of him for keeping his faith while still being a rising star.
ReplyDeleteWhile I definitely have my own opinion on the Mormon church that has many MANY negative connotations for me (never been a member just don't like their heavy influence on Prop 8 and find their practices contain sexist overtones) despite all that I STILL think this is actually kinda cool.
ReplyDeleteI think, like Enty said, that putting personal beliefs/values/intentions before Hollywood is all to the good to me.
If more celebs led with their hearts and less with their greed, we would have many less blind items overall, at the very least.
Good on him, hope it's an experience he gets something out of, and not just more brainwashing.
What Rita said. This will be the making of him; the young men he works with will help him see that it's possible to live a life, have opinions of his own and function without being under a bully's thumb. Plus being an RM (Returned Missioner) when he returns will give him quite a bit of LDS status and distance him from his father even further. Good for him.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone is going to miss him. I totally forgot about him. He didn't win AI did he? Is he taking Rubin Whatshisname, Clay Aiken, and that other nobody with him? They all must be on missions.
ReplyDeletedid his music career ever really take off? I think this actually a step up for him.
ReplyDeleteGood on him for doing something heartfelt. Hope he has a wonderful experience.
ReplyDeleteI had two cousins go on these missions, while I spent much of my childhood in the church (indirectly, went with my grandmother a few times each month) I didn't know all of their secretive bits and never wanted to be a part of that world. It was always understood in my family that these missions my cousins went on were a conversion tour. They both went to poorer countries and spread the word of LDS in attempts to convert the locals. Maybe I'm mistaken? I can often not be very objective about this church or their practices.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to get away from that creepy father of his. Whatever his motivation, good for him.
ReplyDeleteSteph -- it's no secret, that's exactly what missionaries do. We have them in NY, but they send them all over the globe, like the Peace Corps.
ReplyDeleteMy massage therapist is a Morman and went on his mission when he was 19. The church doesn't require people to go, but it is certainly applauded and you get brownie points for doing so. Yes, you have to pay your own way, and you HAVE to go wherever they send you. You have no choice in the matter. Also, apparently they get up to all kinds of hijinks during the mission. Or at least my therapist did!
ReplyDeleteMy neighbors (I grew up in a heavily Mormon neighborhood) who went on missions don't tell of hijinks on their missions. They were very strict experiences. For men, there is a lot of pressure to go on your mission when you're young. It gives you status in the church, and also gives you status with women as you're looking for a wife. For young women, it's optional - and at least in my circle of friends, was what you did if you hadn't already met a husband.
ReplyDeleteYou can also go on a mission later in life when you're retired, which is what my friends' parents did.
I went to a University in the South -- this was 30 or so years ago-- and we had male missionaries come to our apartment complex to spread the word about LDS. In fact, a friend of mine at the time was converted, along with her future husband. Their marriage did not work out, and she was saddled with 3 young children before she was 21. Of course, I was not converted as I was an atheist at the time-- but one of the young men was very cute and I really wanted to convert him to my ways!!
ReplyDeleteThis religion sounds too strict for me, but good for him I suppose.
ReplyDeleteDavid had a Top 10 pop hit in 2008 with "Crush." His second album didn't do so hot, but his Christmas songs tend to go over well.
ReplyDeleteWhatever success the Idols have, good for them I say. Usually, they're left out to dry after the show. Since Clay, Ruben, and many others are still in the industry, that's a measure of success in my book.
David seems like a good kid, but his dad comes off as a pain in the a**. Hopefully, David can become more of his own person and experience the world on his own during his mission.
Good for him. He seemed like such a good, down to earth kid on the show.
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