Zeram was a Nephite military officer who played a critical role as a spy during the Nephite-Lamanite war that erupted during the rule of Alma the Younger as the chief judge and high priest over the land. Around 87 B.C., amid a political upheaval incited by the self-appointed king Amlici, Zeram, along with his fellow officers Amnor, Manti, and Limher, was tasked by Alma to gather intelligence on the Amlicite faction. These men were successful in penetrating enemy lines and obtaining vital information regarding the military strategies and movements of the Amlicites, who had aligned themselves with the Lamanites to wage war against the Nephite nation.
Upon completion of their espionage, Zeram and his comrades swiftly returned to Alma to report their findings. They relayed that the Amlicite and Lamanite forces were advancing with intents to attack the Nephite stronghold of Zarahemla, causing significant losses to Nephite communities in their path (Alma 2:22-26). The strategic insights provided by Zeram and his fellow spies were crucial in enabling Alma to mobilize the Nephite forces effectively, leading to a decisive victory against the combined armies of the Amlicites and Lamanites. This victory not only subdued the immediate threat but also resulted in the death of Amlici, thereby quelling the insurrection and stabilizing the political landscape for the Nephites during that challenging period.