Verse 11

"And the Lord of the vineyard caused that it should be digged about, and pruned, and nourished, saying unto his servant: It grieveth me that I should lose this tree; wherefore, that perhaps I might preserve the roots thereof that they perish not, that I might preserve them unto myself, I have done this thing".

One of the common themes from the scriptures and prophets is the need for constant nourishment for our soul and our testimony.  An object lesson I used to use on my mission and have on occassion since is to take some cornstarch, add water, and work it in my hand.  As long as it is worked, it stays fairly firm.  As soon as you stop working the mixture it seems to melt.  This is how our testimony is.  We need to nourish it constantly, we need to "drink deeply" from the waters of the gospel and we need to work our testimony by the actions in our lives and the words we speak.

Alma 32 provides a similar image in comparing our faith to a seed while explaining the need for constant nourishment.
"37And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

 38But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

 39Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

 40And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

 41But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life."