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Your use of the term iterative reminds me of Elder Renlund’s recent speech. He mentioned that aside from repetition iterative implies improvement with each cycle. If I understand you correctly, you state many words of the Savior, Nephi and Jacob reference the same concepts and events and so we can have better understanding of them all by comparing the accounts. From there you show the cultural significance of a rock, vineyard and sheepfold are therefore similar. I am grateful for the comparisons. I often look at everything alone (probably because it is less to analyze). As you showed, there is a lot to keep track of.
I wonder if this could be shown in another way. I wonder if these symbols have potentially different meaning in a post-Assyrian setting. In the Interpreter article “Assyria and the Great Church of Nephi’s Vision” Uriona shows the symbol of Lamb and garments washed in blood have meaning in the setting of military campaigns. Lamb doesn’t suggest sacrifice so much as a “defeated” enemy of Assyria. Also, apparently Assyrians would wash their conquered enemies clothes in blood. So our having stained garments suggests we are conquered by the world and such. I also wrote a short piece that suggested some aspects of Nephi’s headings and his conclusion (plaintiff statement) are more characteristic of writings that survive from Neo Babylon and Assyria eras.
When you mention terms that may be considered “non-biblical” such as stone of stumbling or safe foundation I wonder if there are perhaps records from other nations that can shed light on pre-exilic Judean culture.
Regardless, I think you are right and it is essential to note the record of the Jews and Nephites constitute the rock. Of course it is scripture that make personal revelation possible (the rock of the New Testament).
I will briefly mention I did like Spencer’s article “The Sticks of Judah and Joseph: Reflections on Defending the Kingdom.” There he suggests the Stick is the nation of Joseph rather than the record. Of course a nation needs a record and history to exist. This is a reading that is probably appropriate and consistent with non Latter-day Saint scholars. I think that reading makes the rock more palatable and so I am a fan.
Thank you.