Alphabetizing my home screen apps.

iPadOS has no automated function to alphabetically arrange your Home Screen App, Widget and App-folder icons.

You can, however, manually arrange the Home Screen icons as you wish:

Move apps and widgets on the iPad Home Screen - Apple Support

Be aware that if you swipe you repeatedly swipe your Home Screens to the left, you will reach the App Library, where you will find both automatically curated App Groups - and an alphabetical list of installed Apps:

Find and use your apps in App Library on iPad - Apple Support

I’m not aware of there ever being any way to do that on Home Screens. It may that the built-in apps are in alpha order by default on a newly set up phone. However you can get a full list in alpha order by going to the App Library and tapping in the search box at the top.