An American Idol...in the Mormon Missionary Training Center - The Salt Lake Tribune

On March 31st, social media was abuzz about former American Idol finalist David Archuleta's appearance in General Conference singing with a over 300 other LDS missionaries (David appears at 4:43).

In Saturday's Salt Lake Tribune, there was a fun article to read about "Elder Archuleta" and his life in the Missionary Training Center (the MTC). Since Elder Archuleta is trying to remain low key, the article is based on the letters home from missionaries who are in the MTC who have seen him or had experiences with him.

David Archuleta at Mormon Missionary Training — as seen by fellow elders and sisters

Church service » Details about singer leak out from blog posts: “He is way cool.”

By David Burger

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Apr 13 2012 10:01 pm • Last Updated Apr 14 2012 12:19 pm

Murray native and "American Idol" finalist David Archuleta began his journey to become a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by entering the Missionary Training Center in late March.

It was thought that once he went inside the doors of the secretive Provo institution, the 21-year-old would be out of the public eye for about two years, spending about 10 weeks at the MTC and then the rest of his time in his assigned mission, reportedly in Chile.

But this is an age where social media breaks down ramparts and bulwarks, no matter how much Elder Archuleta desires his pious privacy. As a consequence, the public and his fans have been able to read about his experiences through blog posts written by fellow elders and sisters at MTC.

"I’ve been officially star struck," wrote Sister Emily Lewis. "I just drooled over him when he was on ‘American Idol.’ 

To read the rest of the article, check it out on the Salt Lake Tribune.