service mysql start

[wa5qjh]

Prints Starting mysql.
Delays briefly then prints
  then: then/endif not found

And mysql not started. Upon reboot you see in the message
  then: then/endif not found
Indeed, in /usr/local/etc/mysql/mysql-server file there are many "then" but no "endif".
And I'm just guessing thats where the problem is. I dont really know

So, is there a way to start mysql server any other way?
I just ran freebsd-update upgrade -r 12.1  from a zfs based 11.2 installation followed by pkg upgrade -f  to hopefully bring the system up to a useable 12.1 system. The first time sinceFreeBSD 1.5 to try this.

Gary Corell
 Ya gotta see time beyond the end of your nose