Is it true that all those who belong to the church will inherit the kingdom of heaven?

Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. (D&C 10:55)

Is it true that all those who belong to the church will inherit the kingdom of heaven? Can all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rest assured that they are saved? That doesn't sound right. The reader must remember that the date of the revelation given is the summer of 1828. The church has not even been organized yet. Therefore, the Lord is speaking of his church before it has been established. In verse 67, the Lord explains that the 1828 definition of his church are those who repent and come unto him, "Behold, this is my doctrine-whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church." 

It's interesting that the Lord would define his church outside the confines of an established religious institution. Apparently, having one's name written on the records of the church is not nearly as important as having one's name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Furthermore, to be a member of the church is not the same as being a member of his church. The promise to those who repent and come unto him is that they "need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."


Ezra Taft Benson said:

In the usual sense of the term, Church membership means that a person has his or her name officially recorded on the membership records of the Church. By that definition, we have more than six million members of the Church.

But the Lord defines a member of His kingdom in quite a different way. In 1828, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said, "Behold, this is my doctrine-whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church." (D&C 10:67.) To Him whose Church this is, membership involves far more than simply being a member of record. ("A Mighty Change of Heart," Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2)