<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> THE AAL BOND 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>                      419,243,353
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     422,497,427
<RECEIVABLES>                                7,258,971
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 250,762
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             430,007,160
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     2,013,914
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      940,850
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          2,954,764
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   442,233,907
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       43,647,941
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       44,806,465
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       96,451
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (18,532,036)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     3,254,074
<NET-ASSETS>                               427,052,396
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           15,125,674
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               2,081,496
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     13,044,178
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   (2,757,566)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   10,100,443
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       20,387,055
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                 (13,044,178)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      2,574,776
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (4,820,130)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                          1,086,830
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (3,794,290)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,133,996
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,081,496
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       424,906,807
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.62
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .298
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                            .16
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (.298)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.78
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .97
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>