<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6                     
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 8
   <NAME> THE AAL UTILITIES FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        119334012
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       133878824
<RECEIVABLES>                                   676406
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  279846
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               134835076
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       143708
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             143708
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     120052701
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         11838400
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         10497093
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       447037
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       (353182)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      14544812
<NET-ASSETS>                                 134691368
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              4920466
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              1149407
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 1475609
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        4594264
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        487429
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      4767805
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          9849498
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (4697577)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        2906152
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (1958613)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             393768
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        20230982
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         533101
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     (840611)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           643863
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                1475609
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         128807218
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.90
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .39
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .455
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.405)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.15
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>