Alma’s statement that “the spirits of all men” upon death “are taken home to that God who gave them life” apparently does not mean that the post-earthly spirit world is in the actual, physical presence of God the Father. Concerning this statement by Alma, Brigham Young has said:
It reads that the spirit goes to God who gave it. Let me render this Scripture a little plainer; when the spirits leave their bodies they are in the presence of our Father and God; they are prepared then to see, hear and understand spiritual things. But where is the spirit world? It is incorporated within this celestial system. Can you see it with your natural eyes? No. Can you see spirits in this room? No. Suppose the Lord should touch your eyes that you might see, could you then see the spirits? Yes, as plainly as you now see bodies … (Ludlow, Latter-day Prophets Speak, p. 26.)
Concerning the location of the post-earthly spirit world, President Young has said further:
When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world… . Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? No where else, only as you may be permitted. (Ibid., p. 26.)
The above two statements by Brigham Young would indicate that the post-earthly spirit world is not the same place as the world of resurrected beings. This is also the teaching of Parley P. Pratt:
The world of resurrected beings, and the world of spirits, are two distinct spheres, as much so as our own sphere is distinct from that of the spirit world.Where then does the spirit go, on its departure from its earthly tabernacle? It passes to the next sphere of human existence, called the world of spirits, a vail being drawn between us in the flesh, and that world of spirits. Well, says one, is there no more than one place in the spirit world? Yes, there are many places and degrees in that world, as in this. Jesus Christ, when absent from his flesh, did not ascend to the Father, to be crowned, and enthroned in power. Why? Because he had not yet a resurrected body, and had therefore a mission to perform in another sphere. Where then did he go? To the world of spirits … (Journal of Discourses, 1:9.)
Heber C. Kimball, a member of the First Presidency for many years, suggested that we will never go back to the actual presence of God the Father until we are fully worthy of this honor.
When we escape from this earth, we suppose we are going to heaven? Do you suppose you are going to the earth that Adam came from? that Eloheim came from? where Jehovah the Lord came from? No. When you have learned to become obedient to the Father that dwells upon this earth, to the Father and God of this earth, and obedient to the messengers He sends—when you have done all that, remember you are not going to leave this earth. You will never leave it until you become qualified, and capable, and capacitated to become a father of an earth yourselves. (Ibid., p. 356.)