Meri Laura Vanhanen (b. 5 August 1975 in Svetogorsk (now Enso), Soviet Union) is a Uralican pastor, politician, relief worker, counsellor, author, and visual artist who is one of the most influential women in the formation and history of Uralica. Always a skilled visual artist, she would spend her free time painting. One day, one of her church members had come to her apartment for tea, and was awestruck at the beauty of this art. She told Meri that she could easily sell her art for handsome prices, but Meri responded, "Only if the Lord tells me to."