<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> THE AAL BOND FUND CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        378740932
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       381612625
<RECEIVABLES>                                  2587215
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  612278
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               384812118
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       725381
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             725381
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     391670281
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         35388155
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         40418221
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        96451
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                     (10551688)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       2871693
<NET-ASSETS>                                 353405552
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             25832095
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 3620320
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       22211775
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       9902653
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      4006350
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         36120778
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   (21676538)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        3202810
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (9960597)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            1727721
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (5646874)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          96451
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (20454341)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          1921733
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                3620320
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         374955294
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.63
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .570
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           .360
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.570)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.99
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>