Well, you want to get light on it as soon as it breaks surface, so that could have slowed you down.
If the mold you're talking about is growing on the surface of the soil and looks sort of blueish white, you're humidity /moisture is high. Yes, your light will help with that. As will ventilation, and a circulation fan.
Yes, seedlings are fragile. If you want to practice, maybe buy tomato seeds and practice germinating and getting them to a few sets of leaves. Or do the same with bagseed. I did it with bagseed.