<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 8
   <NAME> THE AAL UTILITIES FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      118,464,733
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     128,687,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                  716,563
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 118,858
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             129,522,514
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      144,864
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            144,864
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   118,809,477
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       11,767,078
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       10,497,093
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      763,659
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      (417,846)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    10,222,360
<NET-ASSETS>                               129,377,650
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            2,521,307
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              700,129
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
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<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      2,502,004
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       422,765
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      445,353
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        3,370,122
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                  (2,271,446)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,853,226
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (778,444)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            195,203
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      14,917,264
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          307,849
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                719,432
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       122,135,872
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.90
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .216
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .084
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         (.2)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.17
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>