3 Strategies to help you and your family with OPTIMAL CONVERSION—through design

I was lost in the forest… by myself… and I was 6 years old…

My family had gone on a hike in the woods and I had wandered away for I-don’t-know-how-long… I
remember stumbling upon a grove of trees, (and being the curious but not very sensical type)- I was lost
in thought long before I realized I was lost in real-life. When I understood that I was dreadfully alone
(this is before cell phones, friends…) my mind started to throw open the door for panic and fear.
Then, I felt that the grove reminded me of a story—about a boy named Joseph Smith who prayed to God
and his prayer was answered…
I knelt in the dry, yellowed grass and poured out my soul the best that a 6 year old can… and before I
even said “amen…” my sisters came bursting through the trees with mixed shouts of joy and frustration.
At that moment, I KNEW PRAYER WORKED—IT WAS REAL—and I would never be the same.
If I ever had a “conversion” story, where I felt truly committed and changed by a principle of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, that was it!

Conversion is a hard-working word with a lovely duality— It can mean a change or action required for a
desired outcome- to convert an effort (such as an advertisement, a business deal, or a team’s output)
into what you want or need—a sale, a deal, or a product.
On the other hand, it is the transformation of perspective—a spiritual turning of one way to another.
Temporal or spiritual, conversion is to change (or enact change) of something on the outside (or inside),
and turn it into a different, desirable direction.
OPTIMAL conversion then- must be personal, it must be shared with others, and it must lasting.

I have found 3 Strategies to make the most optimal conversion—using design—
and it starts close to home…

Strategy #1: Keep Covenants Clear

When I am feeling powerless and bound by other’s choices, or that I’m “getting lost” in all the menial
worries of the day, I know I need to do the opposite of what I feel like doing— (crawling back into bed,)
so,… I make an effort to thwart the adversary on a small scale. I not only continue on, but I keep my
covenants close to help me make it through.

I take courage in the story of the “Title of Liberty” from The Book of Mormon- Another Testament of
Jesus Christ- and take back my freedom to act, rather than be acted upon.

Captain Moroni was an incredible warrior, leader, and strategist in the Book of Mormon. He was an
exemplary spiritual defender—even in his 20’s. The type of covenant conversion revolution he started is
incredible!

In the book of Alma, chapter 46 verse 12 we read that in a moment of righteous fury—where he had his
fill of other’s choices— he tore off his cloak, used it as a flag/ banner, and wrote the now-famous motive
for war (which he called the Title of Liberty): “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our
peace, our wives, and our children—” and then he put it on a long pole so he could display it for all to
see. Before he presented his Title of Liberty, he put on his armor, knelt to pray, and THEN stood in front
of everyone to remind them of the cost of freedom.

Many not only joined in the fight that day, but tore their cloaks as a symbol of their own covenant; they
promised to fight– or die fighting for what is right. Furthermore, Captain Moroni had them copy the
“Title of Liberty” and put it on the top of every tower in the city.

That’s what I call optimal conversion—and using a visual! (verses 12-20)

So, how can we use this strategy in our day?? How can we start with optimal conversion for ourselves,
and then share it with those we love??

By following Captain Moroni’s example, we can choose to act, we can put on the armor of God, and we
can pray for strength to help others do the same. We can display things that remind us of our own
covenants with God—in every room of the house! Let’s offer an environment in our homes where
everywhere you turn, our hearts can be turned towards our love for Heavenly Father…

We offer contemporary temple portraiture that is bright, new, and unafraid of being a conversationstarter! Our Temple Travel Posters are a great way to start—and because they are hand-drawn, vectorbased graphics- they can easily be printed, made huge, or made small without losing any quality. Hop to
our shop to see our collectible artwork—to help you remember your own covenant conversion!

Strategy #2: Teach others to “turn” too!

After you have been spiritually fed and have committed to act in freedom and faith—now is the time to
turn to your little ones and help them learn and grow in liberty and love.

The Savior, Jesus Christ was the perfect example of a teacher– guiding different ages, levels, and
different interests– all at once! He used simple items like a seed, a pearl, or even a weed… (See
Matthew chapters 7, 13, 24)

Besides teaching through example- (those moment-by-moment decisions), He most often used
analogies or parables—almost like an object lesson to help people remember what is being taught.

————Now, I’m not gonna lie————-

When I was a kid, the word “covenant” went right over my head as a “grown-up word” that I would
hopefully understand someday…

Well, I’m a grown up now, and I still don’t understand all the complexities of the word!… I could give up
and live my mild-mannered life,… OR, I could do the opposite and study it, use the Savior’s example, and
find imagery or an analogy to help…

We have created an engaging, hands-on lesson in full-color just for that purpose!!! For your children to
understand what a covenant really is at it’s core, we imagined being in the arms of our Father’s
“heavenly hug”…

We developed this idea as a game that kids can play using a bit of memorable word-play on the term
“covenant”… Or, should I say COVE-enant!? A cove is a body of water that is sheltered from the
battering wind and waves of the sea. It is usually shaped like the letter “C” too—just like the word
“Covenant”!

Ya know what else is shaped like the letter “c”? the outstretched arms of a loving Heavenly Father—
waiting for us to sail our ships into His safe harbor or cove-enant.

Our tried-and-tested game/lesson is different from what you may have seen before!!! It comes with a 3-
dimensional game board (that moves), personalized game pieces (that can look like your child) and loads
of easily-printable versions of play—based on what ages or levels you need to teach to!!!

Check out our cove-enant lesson for kids—and help them to visualize the true meaning of a covenant
right from the start!!!

Strategy #3: Turn to your Teens- and help convert the weary with worry– into walking in light!

Did you know that the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” fits a certain scripture perfectly??

You may not relate this scripture and tune as perfect for teens—but it really is—and it has helped my
teens on countless occasions:

(sing it with me as we say the verse…)
“Verily, I say men should be… (clap, clap)
Anxiously engaged in a good cause (clap, clap)
And do many things of their own free will
And bring to pass much righteousness.” (clap, clap)

This verse comes from pioneer times in the book we call the Doctrine and Covenants—(section 58 verse
27). Learning this verse to this tune makes it waaaaaay easier to memorize, and is exactly opposite of
what the world wants teens to hear… USING ANXIETY FOR GOOD!?!

Before you get too upset with me, you must come to understand that I have experimented and noted
that anxiety needs an avenue to be able to metabolize the adrenaline that comes with it—and if we
choose a righteous path (or conduit to use that energy in a good way) we truly can accomplish much to
help build up the Kingdom of Heaven! I certainly am no expert at this—call me a “work in progress”…
but creativity is an excellent therapy tool, and using creativity for service is even better!

By stepping out of comfort zones to accomplish righteous works, teens can be like Joseph of Egypt from
the Bible, and (paraphrased-) “take what the enemy meant for evil, and turn it for good.” (Genesis
50:20)

So, what does that look like for our youth?? Well, it’s a good thing we believe in a living Prophet on the
earth today—because in January of 2020, President Russell M. Nelson released a new idea—The
Children and Youth Program for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Is it a coincidence that this new program for youth (choosing for themselves what goals to act upon,)
came right before the start of a global pandemic (in March 2020)? I think not! I am grateful for a
Prophet who can foresee how our dear youth will be impacted by world events.

Our family had a difficult time even just choosing where to start!!!

If your youth need a nudge in the right direction, or even just a quick and easy idea—we designed a
Youth Grab-a-Goal that can accomplished in a day, printed in a minute, and can lead to some great
momentum! Our first Grab-a-Goal is based on the idea that the commandments keep us safe—like the
keep of a castle in the middle ages. Each level of the castle’s “keep of commandments” cleverly
correlates with one of the 10 commandments, and REAL elements that have been found in castles. They
will use an engaging printable that asks a question per commandment about how to use each one…
yes… ALL of them. (you needn’t be shy about #6-10). It’s simple to print, a quick youth activity idea, or
a Sabbath Day sanity-saver!!!

So, if your teen is anxious—get them “anxiously engaged in a good cause…” and keep an eye out too–
because more Grab-a-Goal printables will be coming soon! Hopefully, it will become the start of a lifechanging momentum- onwards and upwards!

In essence; 1-Start with You, 2- Turn little hearts and hands too, and 3: Teach teens to defeat the
adversary with service and goals their whole lifetime through!
*What has helped YOU in your conversion??
Share in our comments!!! @
contempleary.com
**Please know too, that our products are meant to be resources to teach, inspire, and lift—they won’t
solve all problems, but hopefully they can be an easy go-to, to encourage you and your loved ones
along the covenant path.