How Many of God's Children Followed Lucifer?

We are told in scriptures that 1/3 of the host of heaven followed Lucifer in the pre-mortal war in heaven.  That generally is believed to be a literal 33%, but there is another view that resonates more with me.  

There is an interpretation of ancient numerology that believes 1/3 is more accurately translated as "a third part" and means "an unspecified minority" - and 2/3 means "an unspecified majority". Along those lines, "none" and "all" would be written as 0/3 and 3/3 (although they are never stated that way).

That changes the whole math of salvation dramatically - and in a way that is very important and foundational for my view of eternity. In that light, 1/3 can mean a few billion, but it also can mean a dozen or so and anything between - and I FAR prefer that ambiguity to the assumption of a literal 33%.

Nakedness is Not Shameful

I see the story of Adam and Eve, as presented in the temple endowment, as Lucifer positioning himself as the "God of this world" by inserting himself between Adam & Eve and God, "commanding them" and convincing them to hide from God. In other words, Lucifer pointed out their nakedness and then used that nakedness as a wedge to separate them from God. 

Having said that, I don't take it literally, so I don't believe things actually happened as I just described. I'm talking about the meaning taken from the story within the endowment - and I really like that meaning, since it includes shame and guilt over simple nakedness as being introduced by the "father of lies". The idea that nakedness is shameful in and of itself is a horrible lie, in my opinion - and I appreciate a story that attributes that shame to "the devil".

I Like the Devil of Mormonism

I like the concept and symbolism of the devil - as the opposition in all things to the concept and symbolism of the Savior.
I can accept a literal or figurative Lucifer - but I don't like many of the extrapolations that have grown up around the devil. Having said that, the Mormon take on Lucifer (one of us gone really, really bad) is the only one I've studied that I like.

Blaming God or the Devil

I think we attribute way too much to God and the Devil and way too little to ourselves.

For example, in almost any discussion, there is one side that says, in effect, "It must have been God's will," while another side says, “It is not right, and Satan is the cause if someone ’succumbs.’” ("The Devil made me do it.")

Both are cop-outs. Whatever we believe, we should own up to our own place as the chooser of our actions - relying on God's grace and mercy to cover those things we simply can't do differently. I understand the need for a “devil” in our theology, and I can accept the existence of a rebel leader named Lucifer, but I also would not grieve in the slightest if we learn that “the devil” is figurative and he disappears from our discussions – if we simply focus on progressing by understanding better and improving ourselves within the exalting grace of God.