Career
Robinson also became the recorder of the church in 1837. On April 6, 1838, Robinson was appointed the first clerk or secretary to the church"s First Presidency, having previously served as the clerk and recorder of the Kirtland high council. Robinson was imprisoned in Liberty Jail with Joseph Smith at Liberty, Missouri for a period of time.
In 1839, Robinson became the first postmaster in Commerce, Illinois, which was later renamed Nauvoo.
Robinson was released from his recorder and secretarial duties in 1840 when he moved from Nauvoo across the Mississippi River to Iowa. In 1842, Robinson became disaffected with the leadership of Joseph Smith.
During the 1844 succession crisis, Robinson supported the leadership aspirations of his father-in-law Sidney Rigdon. In 1847, Robinson followed the advice of Rigdon and moved from Nauvoo to Friendship, New York, where in 1864 he founded the First National Bank.
