American Idol runner-up David Archuleta will halt his singing career to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints.

Archuleta made the announcement during his Christmas concert in Salt Lake City (see video below of the announcement.) The crowd gave Archuleta, a contestant from the 2007-2008 season, a standing ovation upon the news. He became emotional delivering it as well, shedding tears as he talked about his plans for mission work.

It's not because someone told me that I'm supposed to do it, and not because I no longer want to do music, but because it's the feeling that I've felt I need to do this with my life, Archuleta said, in making the announcement this week.

Archulta, who was 16 when he competed on the popular American Idol show, performed with the Grammy-winning Mormon Tabernacle choir in 2010 at the choir's annual Christmas concert. A spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-day Saints said he didn't know when Archuleta was supposed to report for missionary training.

It also hasn't been disclosed where Archuleta will serve, though services is usually for two years for single men. The church has roughly 350 missions throughout the world.

Upon the announcement, comments from fans have poured in online, many displaying emotion and appreciation for Archuleta.

I'm? so proud of David Archuleta for choosing this he loves God so much, the next 2 years will go by fast for the fans of David. Keep on singing I support you 100 percent. God bless you And your family :) I love you, wrote one fan on YouTube.

THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN FAME. To those people who thinks David is stupid for making this decision, well, please just evaporate or disappear. This just proves that David is clearly not after the fortune or popularity he is getting in the music industry. He just wants to sing for the people. And his faith in God is more? precious than any other thing in the world, wrote another.

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