The Conundrum of the Handle: Finding the Right Fit for Your Vocation

For the man who has felt the Spirit’s call, the journey toward becoming a rock smiter is not just about picking up a hammer or swinging a chisel. It is about defining the right tool—the right *self*—to face the hard things. It is about understanding that the purpose of a tool is often more complex than its sharpest edge.

Recently, we watched a discussion unfold about a remarkable piece of craftsmanship: a pickaroon, a versatile tool forged for multiple purposes. The smith who presented it faced a classic dilemma, a conundrum that spoke volumes: What is the proper handle? Should it be a straight, adaptable shaft like a tomahawk, or should it maintain the traditional, powerful grip of an axe?

The tool itself is beautiful, a perfect blend of utility and artistry. But the handle—the connection point between the masterwork and the hand—is where the entire design hinges. If the handle is wrong, the most exquisitely forged head becomes merely a beautiful weight.

The Adaptability of the Call

This conversation about the handle is a profound metaphor for the work of the stone smiter. When we talk about the quarry vocation, we are talking about building more than just structures; we are building men. We are taking the formerly-broken, formerly-defeated man and fitting him with a calling strong enough to support the weight of a foundation stone.

The man who has tasted the sweetness of the Masterclass weekend, who has felt the guiding hand of the Spirit, finds himself in a similar quandary. He has the spiritual 'head'—the calling, the knowledge, the vision—but the handle, the physical vessel of that calling, must be strong enough, adaptable enough, and right enough to bear the load.

Some men try to force a traditional, rigid handle onto a modern, adaptive calling. Others try to use a straight, generalized handle when the calling requires the specific, powerful grip of the trade. The lesson here, men, is that the right handle is not the one that looks the most impressive, nor is it the one that is easiest to grasp. It is the one that allows you to spin, to chop, and to adapt to the unexpected resistance of the quarry.

Engineering the Smiter's Hand

The genius of the pickaroon is its versatility. It doesn't commit to one single function. It can be a hook, a pick, or an axe. Similarly, the man who is becoming a rock smiter must be adaptable. His skills must not be limited to one single task or one single way of thinking. He must be able to transition from the spiritual depth of the Plates of Nephi to the physical grit of working Moab red rock, all while maintaining the integrity of his calling.

“We must be men who can wield the tools of the trade, but more importantly, we must be men whose hands are guided by a purpose that transcends the tools themselves.”

When you are in the workshop, looking at the steel, ask yourself: Is my handle strong enough? Is it flexible enough? Does it truly embody the spirit of my calling? The process of becoming a smiter is the process of refining that connection—the link between your spirit and your vocation.

The Right Fit

Don't settle for the handle that was easiest to acquire, or the one that looks most familiar. Wrestle with the design. Question the assumptions. Test the weight. Because when you finally stand ready to do hard things on purpose—when you are ready to truly 'smite'—the right handle is the one that feels like it was forged specifically for the man you are becoming. It is the handle of your true, purpose-driven self.