<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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      373,943,566
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     382,200,259
<RECEIVABLES>                               11,704,745
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  49,983
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           425,723
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             394,380,710
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     9,214,130
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      805,888
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         10,020,018
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   391,726,726
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       38,377,918
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       40,418,221
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       96,451
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (15,719,178)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     8,256,693
<NET-ASSETS>                               384,360,692
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           13,425,487
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,854,659
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     11,570,828
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     4,735,163
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                    9,391,350
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       25,697,341
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                 (11,555,802)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,394,980
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (4,345,762)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            910,479
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     (5,372,919)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         96,451
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  (4,679,871)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,000,827
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,854,659
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       384,132,690
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.63
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  0.297
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          0.360
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                      (0.297)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                             0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.99
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .96
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>