Concept and permanence of hell and the "outer darkness" according to LDS beliefs [Edited because I first got confused from the answers about for whom should "hell" be a permanent place (I had assumed that the SE answers meant that it was not a permanent place for anyone).]

This is related to this other StackExchange question about who ends in hell according to LDS doctrine.

In this other question, the topmost of two current answers state about hell:


  Instead of a place of suffering and torment, it's a temporary
  prison where they will get a chance to learn about the Truth, and if
  they are willing, repent and embrace the Truth.
  
  Those who reject it are cast into outer darkness with Satan and his
  angels, and the "sons of Perdition".


The second answer states that:


  While some refer to spirit prison as 'hell' it is not actually
  referred to as that in any official church teaching. It is as @David
  said a temporary place where people have a chance to accept the
  gospel of Christ. See: 1 Peter 3: 18-20
  
  In all actuality no place in LDS teachings is actually called hell.
  The 'Sons of Perdition' are relegated to outer darkness, after the
  final judgment (as opposed to right when you die) So after the second
  coming of Christ.


However the page at lds.org (quoted in the first answer) says that:


  Latter-day revelations speak of hell in at least two ways. First, it
  is another name for spirit prison, a temporary place in the postmortal
  world for those who died without a knowledge of the truth or those who
  were disobedient in mortality. Second, it is the permanent location of
  Satan and his followers and the sons of perdition, who are not
  redeemed by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.


I am not intending to nitpick on answers, but I probably need some clarification.

On one hand the official lds.org answer refers to hell as a permanent place for Satan, his followers, and the sons of perdition.

On other hand the answers here refer to hell as a temporary place where people can learn about God.

The questions I wanted to ask about this:


Is the hell that is a spirit prison in the lds.org answer, or the
place were people learn the truth about God, the same as the hell
that is a permanent place for Satan and the sons of perdition?
What is the "outer darkness" referred to in both answers?
Is anyone tortured in hell or in the "outer darkness", by God or
because of the will of God, according to LDS beliefs?


Please indicate whether your answer is the official church answer (or if that is what you have been taught in church) or if it is your own interpretation.
Is the hell that is a spirit prison in the lds.org answer, or the place were people learn the truth about God, the same as the hell that is a permanent place for Satan and the sons of perdition?

No, they're different. Alma 40 says:

6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.
7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?
...
13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

(Alma was not a very concise speaker.)
This refers to a temporary place between death and the resurrection for those who were wicked. (It's confusing that sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, but in the eternal scheme of things, it probably doesn't matter, since the one who is consigned to hell, was always there in the first place (CS Lewis).)

2 . What is the &quot;outer darkness&quot; referred to in both answers?

Those answers refer to a place called &quot;outer darkness&quot; which is permanent.

3 . Is anyone tortured in hell or in the &quot;outer darkness&quot; according to LDS beliefs?

Yes, I think so. The scriptures refer to hell as a state of &quot;weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity&quot; and being led captive by the devil. Sounds pretty torturous to me, anyway. (I should clarify too that Mormon belief sends way fewer people to this hell than &quot;traditional&quot; Christian belief systems.)