SLC ain't worth the hate. Yeah, the Mormons have their quirks and while I would not want to work in a "Mormon" company where there is a glass ceiling for non-Mormons, SLC is one of the best places in the country IMO to raise a family. The people are just so nice there. They smile. They are typically helpful and knowledgeable.
Of course I would also choose to live in downtown SLC where there is a healthy concentration of non-Mormons. The downtown area is very green. The business district slowly blends in all directions into sleepy, well-manicured neighborhoods where kids freely play on the streets, etc. The schools are decent from what I hear.
Best part is that you are just a few minutes from Park City, etc. You can escape the desert heat in summer and enjoy the best powder in the world in winter. Driving to southern UT, you have some of the most beautiful national parks in the world.
The real estate market is healthy; cost of living is on the cheaper side.
Finally, SLC is home to the best Mexican restaurant in the US: The Red Iguana.
As for cons, I have heard that the non-Mormon community (downtown SLC) can become quite incestuous and the dating scene offers a pretty small (non-Mormon) pond. Every gets to know everybody at some point.