Why can't I see photos taken on my iPhone 12 in the iCloud library or for that matter even find the iCloud photos in iCloud?

Do you have iCloud Photos turned on in your iPhone 12? See: Set up and use iCloud Photos - Apple Support

If you do, when you open the Photos app on your iPhone, tap Library at the bottom left of the screen and then scroll to the bottom, what does the update status show?

My Mac Mini M1 has been downloading 212 originals from my iPhone 12 FOREVER! I HAVE NOT PAUSED IT. I have connected the two and the import did not recognize the iPhone 12

Something is wrong with the updating photos between iPhone and the Mac Mini M1