The FindReplace function is purely intended for use on an external file whereas UseTemplate is intended to take a template file from within the BrailleR package and return the updated text to the calling environment.
Rnw2Rmd tries to replace Standard LaTeX commands and Sweave chunk headers with R markdown ones. It is NOT comprehensive, but it does get a long way towards a useful markdown file.
Obviously the specified file must exist for these functions to work.