A Change in the System: Suicide as an Option
In 1985, as Balch and Taylor writes, crisis emerged in the life of the cult, as Ti (Nettles) died of liver cancer, which devastated Do (Applewhite) who lost his soul mate, an issue eventually ending up in changing the belief system of Heaven’s Gate. As her ashes were scattered, no spacecraft came and the group saw no example of resurrection. Do deducted that the body is merely a vehicle, and no physical transformation is needed to reach the Next level intelligence (219).
Fueled by this change in their belief system and learning about the ATF siege of the compound of the Branch Davidians at Waco in 1993, the group discussed suicide as a possibility to avoid escaping painful and violent death, from a possible intrusion by the corrupt forces that were running the world, in the eyes of the cult.
They came to the conclusion that the ‘willful exit of the body’ is a more dignified way to die, or rather leaving the material world, and even posted exit statements on the internet in assurance of their free will in this aspect and to articulate their condemnation of contemporary humanity (222).
Youtube.com: Heaven's Gate Students Final Exit Statement JMMODY-OLLODY-DVVODY