<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000811869
<NAME> THE AAL MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 8
   <NAME> THE AAL BOND FUND CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   4-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-08-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        369940922
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       368806265
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               426821953
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      36249049
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       839293
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           37088342
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     411226158
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            40571
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (4679871)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      5711712
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         26541727
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       (3288)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          40256
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                       (10)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                325
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (41113075)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          41051
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   (15719070)
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          2214486
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                4087152
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         417874558
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.71
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   .175
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (.175)
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<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.86
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
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</TABLE>